by Alex Sefala - The National (PNG)
QANTAS SUSPENDS FLIGHTS TO PNG
PORT MORESBY: Qantas will suspend all flights between Port Moresby and Cairns for three months starting on Friday, Nov
12, the National reports.
The airline's regional general manger, John Cason, said the Nov 12-Dec 31 suspension will affect all the three weekly
flights between Port Moresby and
Cairns.
Mr Cason did not give reasons for the suspension.
A spokesman at Qantas' Sydney office confirmed the suspension of the Port Moresby-Cairns flights.
He said the decision was made to review the operations of the airline, not only in PNG but also worldwide.
He said the airline noted a low demand for flights in August this year which fell by 13 per cent and was taking steps to
address this.
He said the QF 95 flights between Port Moresby and Cairns will be cancelled until Jan 2, 2000 as a precautionary measure
against the impact of the Y2K millennium bug.
Air Niugini managing director Andrew Ogil's office said the decision by Qantas will not affect Air Niugini's
international operations.
On Monday, another Australian airline, Flight West, owned by operated by former PNG resident Sir Dennis Buchanan,
suspended its Cairns-Port Moresby flights citing non-viability of operations here under the present economic climate.
Article provided by the Journalism Programmme, University of the South Pacific. Pasifik Nius.