Air Niugini maintains regular scheduled flights to Singapore during the pandemic

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

According to Air Niugini, it has been maintaining regular scheduled flights to Singapore from Port Moresby but it is not allowed to carry passengers to Port Moresby due to the anti-pandemic measures in place.

Air Niugini is only approved to fly to Brisbane (five times per week) , Cairns (two times per week)  and Singapore (four times per week). Scheduled flights to other locations such as Hong Kong, Nadi and Narita are not approved until further notice.

Air Niugini is on standby to assist the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government bring back PNG citizens and permanent residents who have been stranded overseas due to SARS-CoV-2 or covid travel restrictions, but this requires PNG's SoE Controller approval first.  The PNG Government is close to implementing this travel arrangement and Air Niugini will advise as soon as all requirements are in order and the process is approved.

In the meantime, Air Niugini continues to uplift passengers OUTBOUND ONLY  to Brisbane, Cairns and Singapore, and the planes DO NOT CARRY INBOUND PASSENGERS unless they are a part of the Governments' efforts and are medical and critical personnel to tackle the pandemic and are approved to return.

Air Niugini will keep the public informed once the government’s arrangement to bring back PNG citizens is approved. All inbound international passengers are required to quarantine for 14 days on arrival, at one of eight hotels in Port Moresby approved for this process. The hotels presently approved by the SoE Controller are Holiday Inn, Ela Beach Hotel, Sanctuary Hotel, Dixies Bungalows, Grand Papua Hotel, Stanley Hotel, Hilton Hotel, Laguna Hotel and Granville Hotel.   The airline staff are aware the PNG Government is working on options for returning citizens who cannot afford the hotel costs and will advise when we receive an update on this.

Passengers checking in for Air Niugini's inbound international flights are required to show their passporta and valid visas (where not travelling on a PNG passport), tickets (as always) and proof they have already paid for 14 days quarantine at approved PNG hotels.

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