Air Niugini : Changes to COVID-19 Testing Requiremnts for International Travel

There are additional changes to the requirements for international travel, effective  today, Tuesday 20 April, 2021.  These changes will affect all passengers departing to Australia , as well as to Singapore , Hong Kong , Manila and any other Air Niugini international destinations. 

All passengers departing internationally will be required to be tested for Covid-19  at time of check-in.  This is in addition to the requirement for the negative PCR test conducted within three days of travel.   

International SOS have been contracted to conduct this test (at no cost to the passenger), and will be conducting this testing at the carpark next to the International Terminal (between the terminal and the plaza area). 

The test takes around 45 minutes to be completed so passengers need to arrive between 4 hours and 2 ½ hours prior to scheduled flight departure. Passengers who do not speak or read English or Pidgin are required to bring a translator with them for the testing. 

For Occupational Health & Safety (OH & S) purposes, only passengers and staff will be permitted access to this car park area and into the international terminal. 

Air Niugini acknowledges there will be rare occasions where a passenger tests negative at the time of the initial PCR test (taken within three days of travel) but then tests positive at check-in.  Due to restrictions, the passenger will be unable to travel if they test positive at check-in , but Air Niugini will automatically rebook the passengers travel for a future travel date, at no cost . Equally for this reason, passengers checking out of hotels in Port Moresby should have a back-up plan just in case they test positive. 

Passengers are reminded that they must wear a mask inside all terminals and on all international flights.  Failure to comply comes with significant penalties. 

Air Niugini continues to operate the six flights per week to Brisbane, Mondays to Sydney, as well as to Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila. Flights to other international destinations continue to be suspended due to international border restrictions.

Next :  PNG Commissioner Manning directs release of Lawyer Laken Lepatu Aigilo