Papua New Guinea to Co-Host Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination

 Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Air Niugini, Papua New Guinea's national airline, celebrated its 50th year of operation, proudly providing competent and reliable air transport services to the nation. However, recent online articles by Pacific Guardian have attempted to cast doubt on the airline's integrity, its management team, and its Board of Directors.

In response to the Pacific Guardian report published on February 17, 2024, titled "AIR NIUGINI CANCELS LEASE AGREEMENT AT COST OF REPUTATION OF FUTURE LEASES," Air Niugini issues the following clarifications:

1. Lease Agreement: Air Niugini emphatically denies the claim of early termination of the SkyUp Airlines Boeing 737 lease agreement, stating that the lease is operating for the full agreed term without any premature cancellation.
2. Objectives Achieved: The airline asserts satisfaction with the accomplishments of the leased aircraft, even though additional flights to other PNG centers would have been preferred.
3. Negotiations: Air Niugini underscores that the Acting CEO and the team successfully negotiated the rate with SkyUp Airlines LLC of Kiev, Ukraine, including the terms and duration of the lease arrangement.
4. Engine Charges: The claim of Air Niugini paying K30 million for 'extra two engines' is refuted, with the airline clarifying that the engines were provided free of charge by the lessor, as per the agreed-upon terms and conditions.
5. Lease Blacklist: The notion of Air Niugini being on a 'lease blacklist' is dismissed, as the SkyUp Airlines lease was not terminated, and the airline emphasizes that no such list exists.
6. Beneficial Lease Arrangement: Air Niugini acknowledges the benefits of the SkyUp Airlines lease arrangement, expressing that, while the hope was to extend domestic services, limitations and restrictions at local airports posed challenges.
7. Expert Management: Air Niugini highlights the extensive experience of its management and board, including the Acting CEO and Chairman, in negotiating various arrangements. The team brings global expertise gained from prominent airlines, not solely in PNG.

The airline acknowledges the poor quality of the articles and attributes them to individuals lacking an in-depth understanding of the subject matter. However, Air Niugini asserts that such inadequacies do not justify the spread of falsehoods.

Furthermore, Air Niugini reaffirms its commitment to addressing past mismanagement challenges and poor decision-making. With the support of the board of directors and Kumul Consolidated Holdings, the shareholder, the management team plans to introduce new aircraft to PNG in 2025, coinciding with the nation's 50th anniversary of independence.

Expressing awareness of destabilization attempts by certain individuals, including former employees, Air Niugini warns against fabricated news and baseless accusations. The airline vows to rebut any falsehoods and take legal action against those responsible to the fullest extent of the law.

The management and board express gratitude to the SkyUp Airlines team as they prepare to return to Europe after an extended period away from home since December 2023.

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Papua New Guinea to Co-Host Asia Pacific Leaders’ Summit on Malaria Elimination