Air Niugini bids for Cairns-Hong Kong freight and passenger route

Air Niugini managing director Alan Milne announced the company is in talks with Cairns political and business leaders and aviation companies with operations in the region to commence Cairns-Hong Kong freight and passenger services, operating Boeing 767 equipment (Cairns Post, 31-May-2019). Mr Milne stated: "I think there are a whole lot more opportunities than just freight. There is a whole passenger market too" and noted the key difference between Air Niugini and competing airlines is that "we're pretty much ready to go now". Aviation Skills Centre business manager Chris Piggott said the airline has the possibility of operating "three times a week" and the Cathay Pacific service to be withdrawn in Oct-2019 "needs to be replaced".