PNG Air, formerly Airlines PNG, is an airline based on the grounds of Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights, as well as contract corporate charter work. Its main base is Jacksons International Airport.

Today its IATA code TOK is used by Toki Air.

History

The airline was originally established and started operations on 30 June 1987 as Milne Bay Air. It operated as a charter company in the resource development industry. The airline obtained an RPT (scheduled passenger services) licence in September 1992 and received its airline licence in March 1997. With its headquarters and main operating base set in Port Moresby, there are also support staff in Cairns, Australia. PNG Air has 750 staff. In 2008 the airline was listed on the Port Moresby Stock Exchange.

Destinations

PNG Air operates scheduled passenger flights to the following destinations:

;

;Papua New Guinea

  • Alotau – Gurney Airport
  • Buka – Buka Airport
  • Daru – Daru Airport
  • Goroka – Goroka Airport
  • Hoskins – Hoskins Airport
  • Kiunga – Kiunga Airport
  • Aropa – Kieta Airport
  • Kavieng – Kavieng Airport
  • Lae – Lae Airport
  • Lihir Island – Lihir Island Airport
  • Losuia – Losuia Airport
  • Madang – Madang Airport
  • Misima – Misima Airport
  • Moro – Moro Airport
  • Mount Hagen – Mount Hagen Airport
  • Popondetta – Girua Airport
  • Port Moresby – Port Moresby International Airport hub
  • Rabaul / Kokopo – Rabaul Airport
  • Tabubil – Tabubil Airport
  • Tari – Tari Airport
  • Vanimo – Vanimo Airport
  • Wewak – Wewak Airport
  • Wapenamanda – Wapenamanda Airport

;Australia

  • Cairns – Cairns Airport

Future Destinations

  • Kepulauan Aru – Benjina Airport

Fleet

thumb|PNG Air ATR 72

, PNG Air operates the following aircraft:

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse"

|+ PNG Air Fleet

|-

! Aircraft

! In service

! Orders

! Passengers

! Notes

|-

|ATR 72-600

|align="center"|7

|align="center"|

|align="center"|72

|align="center"|

|-

|Bombardier Dash 8-100

|align="center"|4

|align="center"|

|align="center"|36

|align="center"|

|-

! colspan="5" |Cargo fleet

|-

| Bombardier Dash 8-100

|align="center"|1

|align="center"|

| colspan="1" class="unsortable" |<abbr title="Cargo configuration"></abbr>

|

|-

!Total

!12

!

! colspan="2" |

|}

Incidents and accidents

  • On 15 December 1992, a Milne Bay Air Britten-Norman Islander aircraft struck a mountain near Alotau, Papua New Guinea. Six people were killed.
  • On 12 July 1995, a Milne Bay Air de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft exploded and crashed into shallow water shortly after takeoff from Dagura Airport. Thirteen people were killed.
  • On 11 August 2009, Airlines PNG Flight 4684, a Twin Otter, made a failed go-around in cloudy conditions near Kokoda. The aircraft crashed into a mountain at an altitude of 5500 feet (1676 metres). All 13 people on board were killed.

References

  • Official Website