The Opposition has called on the government and the Air Niugini board to immediately appoint a permanent chief executive officer of the national airline company and must ensure that it is properly managed and without political interference.
The Opposition also notes that Air Niugini received its first A220-300 Airbus aircraft without a permanent Chief Executive Officer in office on 15 September 2025, and says it is ‘quite concerning’.
“The Government and Air Niugini Board must not overlook the operational and fiscal trajectory of operating an airline company.
“The Government and Air Niugini Board must ensure that, overall requirements, a capable and experienced person must be appointed as the Chief Executive Officer without delay. He must be someone who has both operational and management experience. He should not only know how to push the thrust of an aircraft, lift off or land an aircraft, but must know how to deal with technical issues affecting the operations of aircrafts, and knows how to provide nan effective and efficient air travel service.
“Whilst the Opposition applauds the acquisition of 11 new A220-300-airbus aircrafts to serve domestic and international routes serviced by Air Niugini as a steppingstone to improving air travel time and passenger convenience, making Air Niugini the preferred airline for regional travelers, the Government and Air Niugini Board must ensure that Air Niugini is properly managed and without political interference.
“With two more aircrafts scheduled to arrive in November and December 2025, and the peak travel period fast approaching, the Government and Air Niugini Board must ensure that Air Niugini is well positioned to cater for the demand. To achieve this, a permanent CEO for Air Niugini must be appointed sooner than later.
“It is understood that Air Niugini’s monthly expenditure already exceeded K100 million. The lease of K40- K50 million per month will push the monthly outlay to K150 million.
This level of monthly outlay will be unsustainable if no matching revenue strategy is in place. Therefore, the new CEO must put in place strategic revenue plan to ensure profitability after operational and leasing obligations are met. These are tied to aircraft types with availability of crew and route viability.
“The new A220-300 Airbus aircrafts will be underutilized if no leadership and good management is in place.”