Cost Of Air Travel In PNG A Concern

Commentary by Bryan Kramer, Hon Member for Madang Open 

Today I boarded a flight from Lae to Madang on PNG Air. It was the first time I've traveled on the airline, while I was impressed with the service what put me off was the cost of the ticket - K600.

The distance between Madang and Lae is just 200 km yet the price of a ticket is equal to flying on a special from Port Moresby to Brisbane, another country.

So foreign nationals and Politicians enjoy flying abroad on cheaper flights than everyday PNGeans in our own country.

When I inspected the ticket I noted the break up of cost, PNG Air fees being K272 and Government Tax & Charges component making up the balance of K321.

This is certainly ridiculous, where the Government charges exceeds the cost of the actual service.

I've been informed EDA Ranu has recently increase the water tariffs in NCD by 600%, Motor Vehicle Registration has also increased by some 40%.

It appears the O'Neill Government now broke from running down the country and misusing Billions in public funds is now trying to pass the cost onto the people while Members of Parliament continue to be overpaid, under taxed and yet corrupt MPs still feel the need to steal millions in public funds.

As a Member of Opposition and Shadow Minister for State Owned Enterprises I intend to put an end to it this madness.

While I maintain the war on the newspaper companies I will start carrying out inquires to establish whether these exorbitant price increases are even legal and what options are available to the public to bring a class action against it.

Posted by Staff Reporter : PNG Today on Monday, July 16, 2018. Filed under Letters . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Share this Article

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Halo OAP - Ke Melanesia atau ke Asia? Sekedar Cek-Cek, Otak OAP

Orang Asli Papua (OAP) digunakan saat ini di pulau New Guinea bagian Barat untuk membedakan Orang Papua yang TIDAK Asli, atau istilah kita orang-orang Amberi, atau umumnya kita bisa katakan orang-orang Melayu Indonesia. Jadi, dengan mengatakan OAP, kita sedang mengatakan "Saya bukan orang Melayu, saya bukan orang Indonesia". Itu makna secara sosio-linguistik.

Tulisan ini bertujuan bertanya kepada OAP, "Apa yang timbul di pikiran, otak secara kilat, cepat, sekejap kalau Anda berpikir tentang liburan?" Libiran natal, liburan sekolah, liburan semester, liburan hari raya agama, yang begitu banyak dirayakan di wilayah Indonesia.

Dulu saya pernah punya pikiran, bahwa "Papua New Guinea itu jauh sekali, ada di pulau mana?" Begitu! Dulu saya berpikir, kalaupun Papua New Guinea itu satu pulau,jaraknya sangat jauh. Lalu saya bandingkan dengan jalan-jalan ke Sorong, Mnukwar, Byak, Serui menjadi sangat dekat, masih dalam wilayah saya sendiri. Padahal saya ada di Tanah Tabi, dan Vanimo, Papua New Guinea itu juga Tanah Tabi. Ke Vanumi butuh sepeda motor atau mobil dan satu dua jam sudah sampai di PNG.

Tetapi otak saya bilang begini,

"Ah, jangan itu jauh sekali, itu sulit, banyak tentara jaga di pos-pos perbatasan. Nanti kamu diperiksa, nanti kamu ditanya-tanya banyak, nanti banyak rumit. Lebih bagus berlihur ke Jawa, Bali, Raja Ampat, Manokwari, Wamena."

Ini kalimat bukan dari orang lain, tidak ada iklan di TV, koran atau buku yang mengatakan seperti ini. Kalimat-kalimat ini muncul di otak secara otomatis.

Lalu saya duduk bertanya kepada diri sendiri:

Hei Jhon, kau orang Tanah Tabi, PNG itu sebagian adalah Tanah Tabi. Wamena itu wilayah La-Pago, Sorong dan Mnukwar itu wilayah Domberai dan Bomberai, Byak itu wilayah  Saierri, wilayah adatnya sudah lain. Apalagi ke Jawa dan Bali, itu ras manusianya sudah lain, agamanya sudah lain, pulau nya jaaaaaaaauh sekali.
Ada salah apa dengan otak-mu? Mengapa otakmu tidak rasional? Atau otakmu ada gangguan identitas dan identifikasi?

Dibombardir oleh pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini, saya hentikan, dengan kata, "Stop!" Saya butuh waktu untuk berpikir.

Itu terjadi tahun 2009.

Sekarang tahun 2018, yaitu sebelas tahun kemudian, saya barusan pulang dari Vanuatu, dan juga dua kali mengunjungi Papua New Guinea dalam rangka merintis kemungkinan menjual Kopi Papua, Baliem Blue Coffee ke pasar Melanesia, menyambut langkah-langkah yang sudah dilakuikan pemerintah Indonesia dan pemerintah anggota Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) lainnya di kasawasan kepulauan Melanesia.

Memang biayanya dua tiga kali-lipat daripada biaya untuk terbang ke Jawa, 4 kali lipat biaya ke Bali. Padahal saya hanya terbang ke pulau yang sama, pulau New Guinea dibagian Timur. Padahal sayaterbang hanya ke kawasan ras Melanesia di PNG dan Vanuatu.

Saya juga sempat singgah beberapa kali waktu pulang dan pergi di Fiji. Saya bisa merasakan kondisi di Fiji.

Setelah perjalanan ini, saya mulai berdialogue dengan diri saya sendiri, mundur 11 tahun lagi, mengulangi diskusi kani 11 tahun lalu, menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang saya hentikan 11 tahun lalu.

Sekarang saya bertekad, produk-produk yang ada di Indonesia harus dijual di kawasan Melanesia, dan saya harus menjadi pemain aktif di dalamnya.

Saya kok jadi heran mengapa banyak kopi Filipina, Kopi Malaysia, Mie Bangladesh dan Nepal yang merajalela di Papua New Guinea, mengapa produk Vietnam dan China yang justru banyak di Vanuatu, mengapa produk India menguasai Fiji, mengapa produk Perancis menguasai Kanaky?

PADAHAL produk mereka 2 sampai 3 kali lebih mahal daripada barang-barang yang bisa dengan MUDAH dibawa dengan mobil lewat Wutung ke PNG, lalu dengan mudah ke pasar Melanesia.

Ayo! Mari kita Go-Melanesia, hai OAP, yakinkan dan percaya-kan diri sendiri, Kita Orang Melanesia, OAP orang Melanesia, kita harus berpikir dan sibuk mondari-madir, berdagang di Melanesia, dengan orang sesama Melanesia.

Apakah Otak-mu OAP, atau Anda gunakan OAP hanya dalam rangka memberontak terhadap orang-orang Melayu - Indonesia, yang Anda anggap mereka datang menduduki dan menguasai tanah leluhur bangsa Papua ras Melanesia? Kalau ini penjelasannya, itu terlalu picik, tidak membangun, tidak menguntungkan.

Mulailah melangkah, mulailah bergerak, start lalu-lalang di Melanesia, dengan sesama Melanesia. Anda akan merasakan "SESUATU YANG BERBEDA!" Jiwamu akan kesiraman Roh Leluhur,melihat saudara-saudaramu OAP di PNG, dan orang Melanesia pada umumnya. Jiwamu yang selama ini memberontak akan mendapatkan peristirahatan.

Kibat berpikir kita OAP harus kita PUTAR BALIK, dari lihat ke barat menjadi lihat ke Timur. Peluang bisnis untuk jua produk Indonesia sangat besar di sana. Jangan biarkan orang lain dari jauh-jauh saya merusak pasar Melanesia.

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Air Niugini plane crash turns fatal after divers find missing passenger's body

The body of a passenger on a flight that crashed after missing the runway on the tiny Pacific nation of Micronesia last week has been discovered by divers, Air Niugini says.

The Papua New Guinea-based airline had said on Friday all 47 passengers and crew on board had safely evacuated the Boeing 737 jet after it landed in a lagoon during heavy rain and reduced visibility.

Air Niugini said in a statement on Saturday that it could not account for one male passenger, but on Sunday it said other passengers had confirmed he had safely evacuated the plane and was seen in a local dinghy that transported passengers and crew to the shore.

In a statement on Monday evening, Air Niugini CEO Tahawar Durrani said the body of the male passenger was discovered by divers during the day, as they conducted a further search of the downed jet and the surrounding area in the lagoon.

"Our outreach team is in touch with the man's family and we are making arrangements to repatriate his body," Mr Durrani said.

"The circumstances surrounding this accident are now a matter for relevant authorities as they begin their task of investigating the events that led to the incident and the actions which followed."

Reuters


Source: https://www.abc.net.au/
First posted 2 Oct 2018, 6:22am

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Air Niugini plane comes down in Micronesia lagoon

Air Niugini plane comes down in Micronesia lagoon

A passenger aircraft has come down in a lagoon off Chuuk International Airport in Micronesia after it missed the runway, airport officials say.

The Air Niugini plane from Papua New Guinea was seen sitting in shallow water just off the coast.

Locals responded by approaching the plane in small vessels to help rescue the 36 passengers and 11 crew.

A hospital official told Reuters that four passengers were in a serious condition after the crash.

The aircraft was flying from the island of Pohnpei in Micronesia to Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea, stopping at Micronesia's Weno island on the way.

What is Micronesia like?
Air Niugini said its Boeing 737-800 had "landed short of the runway" amid reduced visibility due to rain and poor weather. An investigation is due to begin, airport officials said.

Passenger Bill Jaynes told reporters that the incident had been "surreal".

"I thought we landed hard until I looked over and saw a hole in the side of the plane and water was coming in. I thought, well, this is not like the way it's supposed to happen," he said.

Water in the cabin had risen to waist height before rescuers arrived, he added.

Dr James Yaingeluo from Chuuk State Hospital was one of the first responders at the scene of the crash and told the BBC he was met with "chaos".

"As soon as the plane door opened it was chaos. Everyone tried to get out through the exit," he said. "Thankfully there were about 20 boats in the water and we managed to get everyone off the plane."

Dr Yaingeluo said some of the passengers had suffered from hip fractures and would "probably have to be medevacked off the island".

Source: https://www.bbc.com/

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Samoan airline deals at centre of Tokelau chopper purchase

By Mackenzie Smith in Auckland, https://asiapacificreport.nz/2017/06/02/samoan-airline-deals-at-centre-of-tokelau-chopper-purchase/

Tokelau’s controversial helicopter buy was part of at least one major Samoan airline deal, along with plans for the establishment of a luxury hotel on the remote New Zealand-administered territory.

In February, then Foreign Minister Murray McCully slammed Tokelau over the purchase of two helicopters that he described as “extravagances”, and later said they represented “a breakdown in Tokelau’s governance”.

David Nicholson, New Zealand’s​ Administrator for the territory, also imposed restrictions on Tokelau’s capital spending and has since carried out a review into the helicopters which found government officials behind the purchases did not have the authority to make them.

Documents obtained by Asia Pacific Report under the Official Information Act confirm earlier revelations that the helicopters, which will now be sold off, were part of an “interim air service”, with the end goal of establishing runways on Tokelau.

Last October, a Tokelau “senior public servant”, whose name was redacted, advised the NZ Civil Aviation Authority (NZCAA) that Tokelau was exploring a fixed-wing air service between Samoa and Tokelau.

According to the public servant, Polynesian Airlines, which is co-owned by the Samoan government, would be functioning as the service operator, made possible through a “partnership arrangement” with private Samoan tourism company, Grey Investment Group (GIG).

It is unclear whether the public servant is one of the two who were suspended pending an investigation by Tokelau’s government into their role in the helicopter purchases.

Commercial deal

A document from February last year, composed by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) official, reveals Tokelau’s bilateral team advised MFAT of a proposal made by a hotelier, whose name was redacted, for a commercial deal involving “operating a helicopter service from Apia to Tokelau”.

Its purpose would be to deliver tourists “to a proposed high end hotel in Tokelau”.

The chairman of GIG is Alan Grey, son of famous proprietor Aggie Grey and who holds several senior government and corporate positions in Samoa, including a directorship of Polynesian Airlines.

GIG has an extensive portfolio of investments, including several high end hotels and resorts across the Pacific, and Alan Grey is also chairman of the Samoa Hotel Association.

Polynesian Airlines and GIG have not responded to requests for comment.

The arrangement with Polynesian Airlines was mentioned as early as September in email correspondence between NZCAA and MFAT officials.

It was also described in a January meeting between David Nicholson, several MFAT and NZCAA officials, and Tokelau’s Chief Technical Helicopter Adviser and Financial Adviser.  

‘Logistical support’

Polynesian Airlines was “providing logistical support” to Tokelau, “including hangar space and access to fuelling facilities”, according to notes from the meeting.

However, earlier documents reveal Polynesian Airlines was not the only Samoan company that expressed interest in a fixed-wing air service to Tokelau.

In a November email, which had its recipients redacted but includes a “minister”, then High Commissioner to Tuvalu Linda Te Puni said she had “heard about a number of proposals for helicopter services and a seaplane service involving Talofa airways with possibly a Japanese company”.

In another email later that month and this time addressed to multiple NZCAA officials, Te Puni confirmed Tokelau was in discussions with Talofa Airways.

In October, a representative for the airline advised NZCAA of the logistics of future flights to and landings on Tokelau, after NZCAA requested the information so that it could determine the relevant rules for aircraft operation in Tokelau.

Following earlier statements from Ulu-o-Tokelau Siopili Perez and former Foreign Minister Murray McCully that the helicopters would be sold off, a chain of emails starting from late February show those plans are now under way.

A number of discussions between CAA and MFAT officials detailed the logistics of selling or contracting out the two helicopters to recover their initial cost.

March correspondence between NZCAA and MFAT officials revealed Administrator David Nicholson had “been approached” by Hawker Pacific, an Auckland-based aviation provider, with the intention of it acting as a sales agent for the helicopters.

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Air Vanuatu posts VT 296 million profit

AIR Vanuatu has achieved a significantly improved profit of VT296m for the 2017 financial year.

The Chief Executive Officer of Air Vanuatu has announced that it has continued its trajectory of good governance, customer service improvements and financial stability by announcing that following a profit to the airline of VT120m in 2016.

CEO Joseph Laloyer said the airline is now hopeful of securing a second jet in the second half of 2019.

The end of year results were audited by Port Vila accountancy and auditing firm Law Partners.

“We attribute this success to a lot of hard work, re-establishing our codeshare relationship with Qantas, regaining our IOSA certification and pushing on despite the hardships,” said Mr Laloyer.

“In 2015 we were ravaged by TC Pam, however the withdrawal of other carriers gave us higher load factors which is reflected in our 2016 results. Marketing plans put in place after TC Pam and in early 2016 resulted in our 2017 success.

“Our priority in 2018 is to retain our IOSA certification – these results announced today will not be possible without it.”

He said Air Vanuatu’s IOSA safety audit process begins this month.

“It is a crucial time at the airline in the coming months. We want to keep the airline profitable and to do so we need to pass IOSA, which we are confident of doing.”

Air Vanuatu intends to re-invest the profit in the company and is working towards expanding its network to include more Australian and regional ports.

“As CEO, I have been focused on getting the airline back in to the black as well as ensuring we meet international standards for compliance, safety and service. We’ve had solid growth in 2016 and 2017 thanks to this compliance and now it’s time we looked to expand our network.

“I believe we have a corporate responsibility to promote the destination and I am taking the lead role in ensuring Air Vanuatu’s marketing not only ensures our planes are full, but we have the right kind of partnerships in place that ensure Air Vanuatu is getting the best out of our codeshare agreements.

“Based on our current revenue growth and keeping our costs low, I am planning to secure a second jet in the second half of 2019, and looking to expand our network with more frequency to existing ports and several new ports in Australia and the region, with Melbourne at the top of this list.

“Feasibility and research with good planning takes several months, as does choosing the right aircraft to meet the demands of this expansion,” Mr. Laloyer said.

“Air Vanuatu has strong partnerships with airlines in the region that we intend to leverage further ensuring we achieve an equitable contribution and positive results for future ongoing growth.”

He thanked the shareholders and board of directors of the airline for their ongoing support of Air Vanuatu.

“We made a commitment to the government to get the airline back on track. I am delighted with these results and for fulfilling that commitment,” he said.

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Air Canada partnership to benefit SI travelers

FRONT PAGE_Mr. James Howey [L] Business Development Manager Air Canada with Mr. Dwivedi during announcement of new partnership arrangement that will benefit Solomon Islander's travelling to Canada.

Solomon Islands nationals traveling to Canada as part of the Foreign worker program or migrating under Permanent Residence nomination program from Guadalcanal Province, will be benefiting from a new partnership arrangement with Air Canada for their travel into Canada.

This partnership benefit will also be extended to any Solomon Islands province that is joining the education and training program offered by Canadian International Training & Education [CITREC].

The proposed route will be from Brisbane, Australia into Vancouver, Canada.

The arrangement becomes effective immediately and offers convenient travel for Solomon Islands nationals.

Air Canada is pleased to be able to support the Guadalcanal Province CITREC Graduates of the Solomon Islands and their Foreign Worker Migration program to Canada via Brisbane, Australia gateway which offers nonstop service to Vancouver and easy connections to the rest of Canada,” said Kevin Howlett, Senior Vice President Regional Markets & Government Relations. 

"And we will soon add another year-round Australian gateway to our network with the addition of direct Melbourne service, adding to our ongoing flights from Sydney and Brisbane.

“With an unparalleled choice of 3 Australian gateways, we are delighted to be welcoming Solomon Island nationals on board Air Canada," Mr. Howlett said.

Guadalcanal Premier Honourable Anthony Veke has welcomed this opportunity.

"We welcome this opportunity with Canada's national airline Air Canada and the support this arrangement will be providing to people of my province and other Solomon Islands provinces in the very near future," Premier Hon. Veke said.

Premier Veke said that Air Canada has embarked on a venture where it is transporting Solomon Islands citizens to new opportunities.

"As Canada's national airline, Air Canada is flying my people to new heights. New heights of opportunity. It is helping make dreams come true and I thank every staff member and management of Air Canada for this opportunity.

“I look forward to my people from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands experiencing Canadian hospitality on Air Canada flights very soon as we prepare a pool of people for Canadian job opportunities," Premier Veke said.

CITREC Chairman Mr. Ashwant Dwivedi has welcomed the partnership saying the Air Canada partnership will help further propel Solomon Islands partnership with Canadian's.

"This partnership will become a great convenience for people travelling into Canada under the arrangement. Air Canada being Canada's national airline has united families from across the world for many years.

“Now it is bringing the people of Solomon Islands into Canada. It is demonstrating its global commitment. This is a great achievement for our partnership with Canada and we look forward to growing this opportunity together with Air Canada," Mr. Dwivedi said.

"There is also cargo opportunity that we can discuss with Air Canada. There is great opportunity that this partnership brings with itself.

“Air Canada has Pacific reach and we can work in partnership with the airline to develop our export of goods and services from Solomon Islands into North America," Mr. Dwivedi who is also Solomon Islands Hon.Consul General to Canada said.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 220 airports on six continents.  Canada's flagship carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2017 served close to 48 million customers.

Air Canada is also the first airline to voluntarily join the World Bank's IMF Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition. Air Canada's efforts to be environmentally responsible – were recognized recently when Air Transport World named Air Canada Eco-Airline of the Year for 2018, global recognition that the airline says they are very proud of.

- CITREC Press

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Erakor Golden Star FC hemi niu PVFA jampion

Vanuatu Daily Post - Long Fraede las wik taem we Tupuji Imere hemi pleiem Siaraga, eye blong olgeta futbol fan raon long Port Vila i bin stap long maj ia, from sapos Tupuji Imere hemi bin winim maj ya bambae i shud pushum Erakor blong winim maj blong hem long wiken ya.

Faenol sko blong Tupuji mo Siaraga i lukim tufala i dro long wan sko blong 1-1, i mekem se Tupuji mo Erakor i level long 28 poen long klasmen, be diferens hemi stap long gol avarej, we Erakor hemi stil lid, nomata we hemi no plei las gem long Sarere iet.

Dro blong Siaraga las wik long Fraede i mekem se hem bambae hemi pleiem relegesen bageken olsem las sisen.

Long olgeta maj blong wiken, fes maj i lukim Ifira Black Bird FC hemi kam blong winim wan strong Mauwia saed long 4-2.

Sko laen ya hemi no soem dominens blong Ifira, we oli mestem blong konvetem 3 penalty, mo plante nara klia poen we oli no putum bihaen long net.

Win blong Ifira i mekem se olgeta i konfemem las ples insaed long Top 4 we Daily Sport bambae hemi jas kamaot blong anaonsem program blong O Lik kwalifaea blong Port Vila Football Association (PVFA).

Afta long maj i lukim Ifira tim i bin laenap blong sekhan long Mauwia long spirit blong Fair Play from hemi las maj blong Mauwia long premia divisen, from nekis sisen oli stap go daon long fes divisen.

Sekon maj blong dei, Shepherds United oli kam blong winim Erakor long wan sko blong 2-0.

Nomata long win, be Shepherds be i lukim Erakor hemi klemem jampionship taetol blong 2017/2018 aot long Ifira Black Bird FC.

Las maj blong dei Tafea FC hemi kam blong mekem wan 1-1 dro wetem BSP Amicale FC.

Olgeta maj long wiken mo Fraede las wik, hemi olgeta las maj blong Digicel 2017/2018 sisen, mo naoia focus blong olgeta klab we oli kwalifae from Top 4 i stap finis long kompetisen ya, mo plante oli stap negosietem finis olgeta niu pleia blong strengthenem tim blong olgeta long kompetisen ya.

Raymond Nasse

Sports Editor

raymond@dailypost.vu

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Air Vanuatu to Resume Longana Flights

Vanuatu Daily Post - Air Vanuatu will resume flights to Longana airport on Ambae later this week after receiving advice operations with non-turboprop aircraft could resume, subject to increased safety measures.

The airline has discontinued turboprop (Twin Otter) operations to Longana airport to eliminate risk from volcanic ash on the aircraft type.

Chief Executive Officer Joseph Laloyer said Air Vanuatu has been closely monitoring Longana flights and deemed any risk to their aircraft would be too high to continue Twin Otter operations whilst volcanic ash continues to be present.

“The airline’s non-turboprop aircraft, the Britten-Norman Islander has been deemed safe to fly to Longana by our flight operations, engineering and safety systems departments subject to daily ash reports from the island,” he said.

Air Vanuatu will base the Islander in Santo to operate to Longana as required.

“There is a backlog of passengers (wanting to travel to and from Longana) which we will address this week. Passengers from Vila will fly to Santo on our ATR then connect on the islander to Longana.”

The airline will only operate to Longana when safe to do so; all passengers booked to fly to Longana should be prepared for possible cancellations should the ash increase.

“Unfortunately, the situation on Ambae is beyond our control and we expect further delays and cancellations to occur whilst ash continues to fall. All ticketed passengers will need to reconfirm their flights on the day of departure until further notice,” Mr. Laloyer said.

Air Vanuatu will provide updates where possible of flight cancellations via their website, social media and local radio.

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