Plans for international flights to Aropa announced

Caption:  (L) PM O’Neill and President Momis shaking hands after unveiling the naming of a Q400 aircraft after Kieta town.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, December 14, 2014 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

TO mark the celebrations in the re-opening of the new Aropa Airport in Bougainville- Minister for Public Enterprise and State Investments Ben Micah announced the beginning of negotiations between the Government of Solomon Islands to connect flights to Munda and Honiara in the Solomon Islands.

He also revealed that eventually they would look to have a Cairn to Aropa direct flight, which was the case before the airport’s closure 25 years ago.

“Today I am happy to announce as the minister responsible for the largest airline in the country, and I can speak on behalf of airlines PNG and Travel Air that we are proud to witness the reopening of this airport and the commencement of this air services back into this part of Bougainville which will be a huge help to the people of Central and southern regions of Bougainville,” Minister Micah announced.

“I would like to announce today that negotiations have started with the Government of Solomon Islands, and Solomon Airlines so that planes from the Solomon Islands and Air nuigini can connect flights from Aropa and Lae next year going to Munda then to Honiara.”

“Eventually we want to connect Aropa into Port Moresby Cairns or Cairns to Aropa, like it was before when all was okay years ago.”

He said that with the new travel in and out of the airport- good things would happen to help bless the people of Bougainville and integrate Bougainville with Papua New Guinea and the rest of the world.

Mr Micah called on the people of Kieta to respect the assets of Air Niugini in the airport and the planes, with that of Airlines PNG, and that of Travel Air.

He said Air Niugini flights to and from the airport Will commence on December.

In addition Prime Minister Peter O’Neill unveiled the naming of the Air Niugini Q400 aircraft that landed in Aropa as ‘Kieta’, after town that was once an important commercial hub of Bougainville.