Air Niugini Mourns The Untimely Passing of Chairman, Sir Kostas Constantinou , OBE

Statement

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Air Niugini announces the passing of our Chairman, Sir Kostas Constantinou OBE. Sir Kostas died on Saturday afternoon, leaving behind an indelible legacy at Air Niugini. He was 66 years old.

Sir Kostas served as Chairman of Air Niugini for the last five years, until his death. During his tenure, Sir Kostas presided over numerous initiatives that positioned Air Niugini as a symbol of excellence and reliability in Papua New Guinea and beyond. His strategic vision, coupled with a profound understanding of ‘doing business in PNG’, steered the airline through challenging times, especially the covid pandemic in 2020 through 2021 – which decimated the airline industry, and the 2018 aircraft incident at Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia. 

Air Niugini is acutely aware of the abundant time and energy Sir Kostas expended across multiple industries – from banking to oil and gas. His influence and vision have been of benefit to Air Niugini, and we now continue to progress our turnaround, building a more sustainable, reliable, and accessible airline for the advancement of the citizens of Papua New Guinea. 

Beyond his professional achievements, Sir Kostas was known for his kindness, humility, and deep commitment to the people of Papua New Guinea. He was a philanthropist at heart, supporting numerous charitable causes and initiatives aimed at improving the lives of those less fortunate.

On behalf of the management and staff of Air Niugini, our deepest sympathies are extended to the family of Sir Kostas, including his children Constantia, Andrea, George and Theo. 

During this difficult time, we request that the privacy of Sir Kostas' family be respected. Air Niugini will provide support and assistance to his family in their time of grief, and we will ensure that his memory is honoured in a befitting manner.

The loss of Sir Kostas is felt deeply by everyone at Air Niugini. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his friends and colleagues particularly those in his personal businesses within the Constantinou Group, who have lost a remarkable individual. Sir Kostas' exceptional legacy and his passion for aviation will continue to inspire and guide us as we navigate the future of Air Niugini.

Air Niugini remains fully committed to maintaining its operations and striving to deliver outstanding service to our valued customers. The Board of Directors, together with the executive team, is dedicated to continuing Sir Kostas’ vision and ensuring a seamless transition in leadership.

Sir Kostas will forever remain an integral part of Air Niugini's history, and his remarkable legacy will endure. We are grateful for his profound contributions and the immense impact he had on our airline and the wider aviation industry. The entire Air Niugini family mourns his loss, and we will honour his memory by upholding the principles he held dear.

Minister for State Enterprises Hon. William Duma LLB LLM CMG MP said, “Sir Kostas was a capable, experienced, intuitive Chairman and brought substantial gravitas to the Board of Directors of Air Niugini. I know his presence will be sadly missed. Air Niugini is in a period of restructuring and fleet replacement; with Sir Kostas’ death, I will ensure that appropriate support is provided to the company.” 

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Gary Seddon said, “The Chairman was well known amongst the staff of Air Niugini, across our network. To many of them, this news will be difficult to reconcile. To help us all through this time of grief, we must celebrate the achievements and remember the legacy of the life of the man that was lived.”

Ends…//

Pic caption: Air Niugini Board chairman, Sir Kostas Constantinou welcomed by the airline’s Executive Club Lounge attendant at Nadzab airport, Ms Samantha Peruan for the board meeting in Lae early this year.

Next : PM Marape presents China-PNG visa agreement to Parliament