Air Niugini to fly to Townsville this month

Papua New Guinea's Flag carrier Air Niugini,  will commence new air services between Port Moresby and Townsville in North Queensland, Australia at the end of this month.

Air Niugini chief executive officer Simon Foo says Townsville already enjoys strong business and cultural links with PNG through its “sister city” relationship with Port Moresby.

“Air Niugini has evaluated and engaged in extensive discussions with the Townsville airport owners and operators, the mayor of Townsville, and the Townsville enterprise and local political and business leaders,” Foo said.

“This new service will open up important business, educational, sporting and people-to-people links.

“The new flights will also benefit Central and North Queensland business communities who can now better access PNG and other Pacific and Asian cities.

“This service has the potential to be an important addition to our regional “hub”. It will offer the citizens of Townsville and other centres such as Mackay and Mt Isa the efficient international “connection” they don’t currently have – transiting here before traveling to our major Asian centres such as Manila, Singapore and Hong Kong as well as Honiara, Nadi, Port Vila, Pohnpei and Chuuk in the Pacific,” he said.