P-NG "Fed-Up"

With Delays On Air Link

From a Port Moresby Correspondent Despite continual pressure by ter ritory commercial interests, and particularly the Port Moresby Chamber of Commerce, for a direct 707 air link between Port Moresby and South-East Asia, the territory is no closer to getting one than it was two years ago. Latest signs indicate that it will be another two years before the territory is likely to see a regular 707.

THERE is a chance of an Electra through service earlier than this —but only a chance. It depends on a number of factors which are at present coming to a head.

As PIM has frequently reported, there have been constant efforts to get a service instituted Sydney-Port Moresby-Manila or Hong Kong.

Qantas have said quite clearly that they are willing to establish one, and Ansett-ANA have made a num ber of noises despite the fact that they have no international licence and are not likely to get one. Philip pine Airlines are also involved.

Qantas would have put a weekly 707 from Sydney-Port Moresby- Hong Kong last year if they could have got permission from DCA.

Their plans were delayed when DCA called for strength tests at Jackson’s Airport.

More Work Needed

These tests have now been com pleted and the local report is that DCA will forbid the airport’s use by 707’s unless major strengthening work is carried out. The strip is at present 6,800 ft, and DCA will probably want about 8,000 ft.

Qantas could probably put its 338 C model 707 aircraft down on a shorter runway, because these need less runway length than the smaller and lighter 1388 model 707’s. But since the strength problem might beat this plan, it looks as if Qantas might suggest Electras—and they have range enough only for Manila.

Qantas undoubtedly would prefer Hong Kong, since most traffic would want to go at least to Hong Kong.

Like the projected 707 service the Electra service would be once weekly and would have to be subject to Port Moresby traffic rights—some

thing on which Qantas has always insisted. There is, however, an alternative to traffic rights, and that is negotiation for the sale of tickets by Ansett and TAA, as suggested by the World Bank report.

Qantas international Electras have a configuration of 16 first-class seats and 43 economy on the South African operation and presumably this would be the configuration for a Moresby route.

An Electra service would have the advantage of being established quickly and the Chamber of Commerce is anxious that some service be insti tuted quickly, by somebody. There is a growing amount of traffic and

freight between the territory and the Far East, and in addition a through service is important to the growing territory tourist industry.

Territory people are becoming fed-up with the delays over the estab lishment of an international service and are wondering out loud whether they have been deprived of it so long because of some kind of airline and political war and not because of technical considerations at all.