Air Niugini

This is due to deteriorating conditions of that country’s runway.

General Manager, Market Dominic Kaumi told LOOP PNG the airline management will meet today to make a decision on the Airline’s weekly service to Port Vila, Vanuatu.

Last week, Qantas suspended their codeshare with Air Vanuatu effectively immediately due to concerns about the country’s international runway at the Bauerfield International Airport..

Air New Zealand has also suspended all flights to Vanuatu.

Most were Papua New Guineans married to Vanuatu and who now reside in Port Vila.

Helen Franklin and her husband Luke were some of those to welcome the flight.

They are Missionaries and have been serving in Port Vila for a while now.

Mrs Franklin could not hold back her tears in an interview with PNG Loop.

She said as soon as the plane touched down, she was so excited because it brought the presence of PNG closer to them.

She thanked Air Niugini for allowing such partnership between the people of Vanuata and PNG.

General Manager Dominic Kaumu revealed this yesterday after its first commercial flight to Bauerfield International Airport in Vanuatu, Port Vila.

He said the inaugural flight will include very important people including Prime Minister Peter O'Neill and other government ministers and officers.

Kaumu said the commercial flight today signifies a strong relationship Papua New Guinea has with the other Melanesian Spearhead Group countries.

So far Air Niugini is servicing three MSG countries.

These are Solomon Island, Fiji and now Vanuatu.

It's the first commercial flight. General manager Dominic Kaumu says the flight is a way to help the Melanesian Spearhead Group countries in the Pacific.

He said the flight will also help the people of Vanuatu and Solomon Island during the upcoming Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

 Onboard the flight include Air Niugini executive officers, National Airport Corporation staff, journalists and other passengers.