Air Niugini (PX, Port Moresby) has announced its new budget subsidiary, Link PNG (Port Moresby), will commence scheduled operations on November 1. Airline Board Chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher, told a press conference in Port Moresby last week that Link PNG is part of Air Niugini's restructuring and is aimed at making domestic air travel more accessible to the local population.

“The new subsidiary will operate on a “low cost carrier” model, providing an affordable and safe service to the people of Papua New Guinea. The carrier will also serve PNG routes on a community service (CSO) obligation, ensuring that not only are remote and less profitable services maintained, but progressively expanded to meet the growing transport needs of the nation and its people,” he said. “Link PNG will be a smarter, less “frills” and low cost carrier that will principally service routes to provincial and district centres which are currently being operated by the Dash 8 Classic fleet."

Link PNG will operate a separate company under its own board and management with Daniel Wanma its Chief Executive Officer.

Late last month, government announced the partial privatization of Air Niugini with a 49% stake to be offered to local investors.