Air Niugini taps

into new market

In what may set a trend for tourism in the South Pacific, Air Niugini is bring ing a new wave of Japanese tourists to Papua New Guinea in 1995.

Encouraging results from 1994-1995 could result in Air Niugini offering further charter flights which will bring Asian tourists to other South Pacific countries.

Air Niugini, one of the world’s most successful niche airlines, is using innova tion to maintain its record of having made a profit every year since inception in 1973.

It has established its charter business, in addition to its thriving international and domestic operations, using one of its two late-model A3lO-300 Airbus. The charters fill what would otherwise be idle time for one of the aircraft.

Already 10 charter flights - operating between the new airport at Osaka and Port Moresby - have been filled for 1995, double the number of charters from Japan last year.

“Most of the passengers booked on the flights are younger tourists,” said Dieter Seefeld, Chief Executive and General Manager of Air Niugini.

“In PNG they will pursue their particu lar interests,” he said. “Some are diving enthusiasts who want to try some of the most interesting dive sites in the world.

The water is clear and warm and it is rich

in war relics, coral gardens and vast num bers of tropical fish.

“Some charter groups are adventure tourists who want to experience the cul tural diversity and wilderness knowing they can do so in complete comfort and security,” Seefeld said “A limited number are relatives and descendants of soldiers who died in PNG during the Second World War.”

In addition to being available for char ter, the 209-seater A3los make regular scheduled flights to Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Manila where they connect with major carriers, including Qantas, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Philippine Airlines and Cathay Pacific - with whom Air Niugini has developed strong associations.

In PNG, Air Niugini is now operating over 70 flights a day to 20 locations, including the major centres of Lae, Mt Hagen and Madang; There are now four flights daily to Tokua, a new airport serv ing Rabaul and the East New Britain Province after the devastating volcanic eruptions last September.

Many of these flights use the fleet’s new 74-seater F2B-4000, the latest model in the series. Geoff McLaughlin, the compa ny’s public relations manager, said the recent acquisition is part of an ongoing modernisation programme started in the late 1980 s by Seefeld, who has recently

been appointed for a further two years.

This updating process has seen the installation of new equipment, including a state-of-the-art computer system which links the entire air transport industry in over 180 countries and territories; the opening of additional routes; and the training of staff to international standards.

“For several years we have been devel oping Air Niugini into a modern, world-class airline offering a sophisticat ed niche carrier service in the Asia-Pacific region,” McLaughlin said.

He believes that Air Niugini’s strong links to business, particularly in the min ing and manufacturing centres of Papua New Guinea, have placed the airline in a unique position.

“About 70 per cent of our customers are business travellers - so we take great pride in understanding the needs of the business people and offering them excel lent service.

“The high degree of professionalism among our in-flight staff is maintained in the standards of service we provide to our tourist passengers.”

The charter flights are lifting Air Niugini’s profile in the international tourist market. They are ideal for tourists groups to a single destination port where they can split into groups pursuing differ ent activities. ■

Air Niugini: a choice of the leaders