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Air Niugini will restore non-stop flights between Port Moresby and Auckland later this year, re-establishing the first direct air link between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in more than 26 years.
The airline will launch three return services a week from November 17, initially using Boeing 737-800 aircraft before transitioning the route to its new Airbus A220 fleet next year.
Chief executive Alan Milne says the service is an important milestone in the airline’s international expansion and will strengthen links between the two countries.
“The resumption of direct services to Auckland is a significant milestone for Air Niugini and for the people of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.”
Alan says the flights will reduce travel times by removing the need for passengers and freight to transit through Australia or other regional hubs. The schedule has also been designed to connect with Air Niugini’s services to Hong Kong, Singapore, Manila and Tokyo via Port Moresby.Air Niugini last operated direct Auckland services in 1998, when the route was withdrawn during the Asian financial crisis.
The airline says the restored service will support tourism, business travel, trade, education and seasonal worker movements between Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, while providing New Zealand travellers with improved access to destinations across Papua New Guinea through Port Moresby.
