UK operators for Air Niugini

Templewood, a British air charter firm, known as Tempair, has outbid Qantas, TAA and Ansett for a con tract to operate Air Niugini’s inter national routes. Templewood’s was the lowest tender. Qantas and Ansett made individual offers, and Ansett, as a second string to its bow, made a bid with TAA.

The deal was expected to be signed before the end of November, and the services are expected to start in January. Templewood is required to provide, maintain and crew a Boeing 720, which is similar in appearance to a Boeing 707, but structurally different.

The aircraft will carry Air Niu gini’s livery on the PNG-Australia and PNG-Far East routes. Qantas will share the PNG-Australia route with Air Niugini under a reciprocal rights arrangement. Qantas remains the sales agent for Air Niugini.

It had been suggested earlier that the likelihood of Templewood win ning the contract was a “slap in the face” for the Australian Minister for Transport, Mr Charles Jones, That

is not the case. It was simply a ques tion of economics.

Under an interim arrangement Ansett and TAA are already in volved in Air Niugini’s Australian route. Their aircraft will eventually disappear from this route, although they will still retain their interest, temporarily, in Air Niugini, as share holders, along with Qantas. The three airlines are minority share holders. PNG holds majority owner ship, and under government arrange ments between Australia and PNG will eventually acquire full owner ship.

Qantas, TAA and Ansett were all asked about six months ago if they could nominate a suitable manager to take over in 1976 from Mr Ralph Conley. Mr Conley, who built up Air Niugini in its formative period, will leave PNG in January.

When the three Australian airlines failed to nominate a manager. Air New Zealand was asked to step into the breach. The chairman of Air NZ, Mr J. F. Jeffries, said his airline would consider if it could provide management from its limited re sources.