Minister to query airline of fare differences

Caption:  Public Enterprise and State Investments Minister William Duban.

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, August 14, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

MINISTER for Public Enterprises and State Investments, William Duma has promised the people of Goroka an answer regarding the rationale faced by travellers to and from the Eastern Highlands District to pay more compared to longer routes in the highlands region.

Member for Goroka, Bire Kimisopa, referred to Air Niugini and its service that runs between Goroka and Port Moresby.

He said flights going through the district by Air Niugini subsidiary, Link PNG, were slightly more despite geographical distance were not justified.

“The airfare from Port Moresby and Goroka is K664 for one way- compared to Mt Hagan to Port Moresby K653.90 difference of about K10.10.”

“The flight distance to Goroka is shorter than Mt Hagen- people flying out of Goroka are paying a little bit more.”

“They are paying roughly about extra K1600 per day, K11,000 per week, in a year people flying out of Goroka Eastern Highlands are subsidizing Air Niugini Guinea almost K588,000,” Kimisopa said.

“If this is an inferior segments of what Air Niugini is offering. Why are the people of Goroka and Eastern Highlands paying a little bit more for shorter trip compared to our good friends in Mt Hagen flying direct to Port Moresby?”

Minister Duma agreed with the member, referring to shared concerns raised on the setting of airline fares by the flag carrier.

“The question he raised has been raised on many occasions by other leaders as well as members of travelling public,” Minister Duma said.

“Apparently their cost have always been high in this country and despite many attempts by government to look at reducing the cost of airfares for our people that this has not been the case.”

“I asked them why the cost of travel in PNG are high compared to those charged by airlines in the region.”

He said the first response by management of the national airline were mainly to do with surcharges, airport charges, the cost of fuel, and the charges imposed by the Internal Revenue Commission.

“That was the response they gave and I have directed ANG as part of their plans to seriously looking at reducing the cost of traveling for our people in this country.”

“But in the case of Goroka it’s an important question I am not in a position to give a straight answer as this is a bit unusual. So I would like assure the member that I will take it upon the management and get them to explain why this is the case.” Duma added.