Timeline Air Niugini

General Manager Ralph Conley

Air Niugini services were inaugurated on the 1st of November 1973 , when flight PX100 left Port Moresby enroute to Lae, Rabaul and Kieta. Sir Michael Somare, then Chief Minister of the Territories, cut the ribbon.

Schedules 3 (December) shows 8 F27’s and 2 DC3’s flying to Buka, Bulolo, Jayapura, Daru, Goroka, Garaiana, Gurney, Mount Hagen, Honiara, Hoskins, Kieta, Kavieng, Kokoda, Lae (city), Losuia, Madang, Manus Island, Munda, Port Moresby, Popondetta, Rabaul, Talasea, Vanimo, Vivigani and Wewak

In its first year Air Niugini carried 350,000 passengers (85,000 more than forecast) and flew more than 27,000 hours.

General Manager Ralph Conley

Air Niugini was able to make a profit in its first calendar year of operation.

With no road linking the capital Port Moresby to other centres and the immense distances and time constraints associated with shipping, few airlines in the world play such a crucial role in the country's economy and basic transport needs as Air Niugini

General Manager Ralph Conley

Two Boeing 727’s were wet leased (with crew and maintenance services) from Ansett and TAA to serve the Brisbane – Port Moresby route while a Boeing 707 wet leased from QANTAS was used on the weekly service to Manila and Hong Kong. Fokker Friendships (F27’s) were used between Port Moresby and Cairns

November Air Niugini becomes first international operator to fly to Cairns . Old Ansett Terminal partitioned off to allow arrival of international partners.

Chairman of NAC Paul Pora

General Manager C Bryan Grey took over from Ralph Conley

First orders were placed for four Fokker F28’s and Sydney was added to the list of International Destinations.

Data Processing Dept Setup

February First proving flight Boeing B720

February Last regular TAA flight – VH-TJA

February Last regular Ansett flight – VH-RMF

March Bryan Grey takes over General Manager

July First Paradise Magazine (Issue number 1)

October Sydney Sales office opened on the corner of King & George Streets. Bryan Costello first Sydney Manager.

August Last DC3 withdrawn from service (1 Aug)

November First F28 service from Port Moresby to Lae / Madang / Kavieng and Kieta.

November First mainframe computer installed and commissioned.

Air Niugiini bought out Trans Australia Airlines (TAA) and QANTAS shares in the airline.

Minister for Transport, Works and Supply Mr. Bruce Jephcott

Chairman NAC Paul Pora

General Manager C Bryan Grey

First two Fokker F28’s arrive. The first had, as part of the crew, First Officer Aria Bouraga, the first Papua New Guinean to complete F28 training and obtain turbo-jet endorsement.

First Papua New Guinean Licenced Engineer – Komini Kanawi (DC3’s)

January Last Boeing B720 flight P2-ANG (Off PNG Register 2nd February 1977)

First Boeing B707 flight P2-ANH

April First Boeing B707 flight to Hong Kong taking 6 hours and 10 minutes. The assistant to the PX General Manager, Bart Philemon was on board.

Early 1977 Inaugural Kagashima Flight – Japan

July 15th – Air Niugini Haus officially opened

July 31st – DC3 era officially ended

Staff Cafeteria at ANH opens. Tenders called for construction of 45 houses at Korobosea. Another 63 houses and 42 flats will be built later.

Lost Baggage – mentioned in Parliament – for every 1460 passenger only one bag is lost. Internally for every 480 passengers one bag is lost. Qantas statistics at the same time mentioned one lost bag for every 370 passengers.

Turbo prop YS11 chartered to cope with Christmas rush from All Nippon Airways.
(NOTE - The YS11 first flew on August 30 1962)

General Manager C Bryan Grey

One of the most significant achievements for 1978 was when Captain Minson Peni became the first Papua New Guinean to take command of an all PNG crew in a Fokker F27. His co-pilot was Lekwa Gure now a Captain of the Boeing B767 flagship.

General Manager Gerald S Fallscheer

Mounted P2-ANQ “Larry Blackman” outside Air Niugini House.

Air Niugini added two more F28’s and two Boeing 707s to its fleet.

May Boeing B707 P2-ANA onto PNG Register 28 May 1979

July Introduction of Boeing B707 flights to Honolulu, Singapore via Jakarta flights

September Boeing B707 P2-ANB onto PNG Register 27 Sep 1979

General Manager Mr Joseph Tauvasa, the former Director of PNG Civil Aviation, took over from Mr Gerald Fallscheer and became the first Papua New Guinean General Manager.

Air Niugini entered a tripartite agreement with Cathay Pacific and Philippine Airlines to fly scheduled passenger and cargo services between Hong Kong , Manila and Port Moresby .

South Pacific Festival of Arts

October First PX Fokker F28 – Port Moresby to Brisbane (P2-ANF)

November Second Licenced Papua New Guinean Aircraft Engineer – Eddie Matane F28 Spey Engines

General Manager Mr Joseph Tauvasa

March First Dual Licenced Papua New Guinean Aircraft Engineer – Eddie Matane F28 Spey Engines and Airframe

September P2-ANN - Dash 7 onto PNG register

December Introduction of De Havilland Canada Dash 7 aircraft to internal routes

Total of three Dash 7 aircraft delivered and entered service

National Airline Commission purchases Air Niugini shares held by Ansett

Minister for Civil Aviation Tom Pais

National Airline Commission Chairman Bart Philemon

General Manager Joseph J Tauvasa

April 1982 P2-ANP Dash 7 aircraft onto PNG Register

Fourth Dash 7 delivered

In partnership with Air New Zealand and Cathay Pacific, Air Niugini begins flying a direct service linking Auckland , Port Moresby and Hong Kong .

Air Niugini became involved in the Middle East, ferrying Fijian peace keeping units to Lebanon and Sinai in Boeing B707’s.

Civil Aviation Minister Sir Iambakey Okuk

Chairman NAC Bart Philemon

General Manager Joseph J Tauvasa

Dash 7’s begin regular scheduled flights to Kiunga, Mendi and Kundiawa (and later Tari)

F28 service to Hoskins begins

Air Niugini signs three year management contract with KLM, employing four executives from the Dutch airline.

May Air Niugini’s ICL computer was sold to Royal Brunei Airlines and replaced by a Fujitsu Facom M180 mainframe computer worth about K2 million. Mr Bart Philemon the chairman of the National Airline Commission pressed the button to officially activate the new computer system

December Last PX Fokker F28 flight Brisbane to Port Moresby (P2-ANE)

General Manager – Masket Iangalio replaced Joseph Tauvasa

May Pope John Paul II flew in an Air Niugini Fokker F28 from Mount Hagen to Honiara . The interior of the plane was modified for such an important occasion

Completed sale of Boeing B707’s

Remaining four Fokker F27’s sold

November First PX Airbus A300 (P2-ANG – 27 Nov)

Fleet consisted of five F28’s 1000s, three Dash 7s and the Airbus A300 on lease from TAA

Eddie Matane checked out as qualified Boeing B707 Flight Engineer. Eddie later converted to the Airbus A300.

General Manager Masket Iangalio

Stopped flying the direct service linking Auckland , Port Moresby and Hong Kong

Home Ownership Scheme Introduced by Masket Iangalio

January Last PX Boeing B707 flight (P2-ANB)

September PNG Celebrates its 10 th year of Independence

General Manager Dieter Seefeld takes over from Masket Iangalio

Air Niugini declared an operating profit of K7.6 million for the year

The first five national cadets for the National Pilot Training Scheme were selected

A new Airbus was provided by TAA to replace the original Airbus.

The fleet then comprised of an Airbus A300B / Five Fokker F28’s 1000 / 3 Dash 7’s

Chairman of NAC Michael Bromley

General Manager Dieter Seefeld

P2-ANG Big Bird A300 (air niugini in lowercase)

One Dash 7 sold and a Fokker F28 1000 purchased during the year

Minister for Civil Aviation Hon Bernard Vogae OBE and
Sir Hugo Berghuser MBE

Chairman of NAC Michael Bromley

General Manager Dieter Seefeld

Lekwa Gure First Papua New Guinean Airbus Captain

First all Papua New Guinean crew on Airbus A300 – P2-ANG

Captain Gure, First Officer Narara, Flight Engineer Matane

Chairman National Airline Commission Mr Mekere Morauta
and Joe Tauvasa

General Manger Dieter Seefeld

Modernised Ragiana Bird of Paradise becomes the Air Niugini new corporate logo. This logo suited all aircraft types not just the widebody Airbus.

March Last PX Airbus A300 flight (P2-ANG – 11 Mar)

March First PX Airbus A310 flight (P2-ANA)

November First PX Boeing B737 flight (G-BTEB)

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld

March Last PX Boeing B737 flight (G-BTEB)

Planning underway to replace Air Niugini’s computerised reservation system hosted by Qantas (QANTAM)

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld

9th South Pacific Games Air Niugini ran a shuttle service of Fokker F28’s to move athletes at the opening ceremony in Port Moresby to event centres in Lae

January 2 nd Airbus A310 delivered (P2-ANG)

July 15 th birthday of Paradise in-flight magazine

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld

In 1992 Air Niugini transferred from Qantam to the Gabriel Reservation System based in Atlanta , Georgia , USA . All messages on the system travel to Atlanta and return, even if it is from one office in Port Moresby to another. The SITA network is used for the transmission of data using specially developed airline protocols develop long before the Internet was thought of.

October Fokker F28-4000 P2-AND into service

Air Niugini carried 125,000 international passengers and 570,000 domestic passengers

During 1992 / 1993 the Air Niugini mainframe computer was upgraded in several stages to a Fujitsu M1600 model

Chairman National Airline Commission Sir Mekere Morauta

Chief Executive / General Manger Dieter Seefeld

Flying internationally to Sydney , Brisbane , Cairns , Honiara , Jayapura , Singapore , Manila and Hong Kong

Air Niugini organizes first travel industry roadshow to tour four Australian cities Brisbane; Sydney; Melbourne and Cairns publicising holidays in PNG. It took 4 days and Asaro Mud man Henry Sibuno from Komonibi village in the Asaro valley

20 th Anniversary of Air Niugini

Fleet consisted of:-

2 x A310

1 x F28-4000

7 x F28-1000

2 x Dash 7

Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Hon Avusi Tanao

Chairman National Airline Commission Sir Mekere Morauta

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld

First Papua New Guinean Director of Flight Operations – Lekwa Gure

December Fokker F28-4000 P2-ANI into service

Flying internationally to Sydney , Brisbane , Cairns , Honiara , Jayapura , Singapore , Manila and Hong Kong

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld

September Brisbane International Terminal opens

Flying internationally to Sydney , Brisbane , Cairns , Honiara , Jayapura , Singapore , Manila and Hong Kong

Flying Domestically to Buka, Daru, Goroka, Gurney, Hoskins, Kavieng, Kundiawa, Lae, Madang, Manus, Mendi, Moro, Mt Hagen, Popondetta, Port Moresby , Rabaul, Tabubil, Tari, Vanimo, Wapenamanda and Wewak

PNG celebrates its 20 th year of Independence

Minister for Civil Aviation Hon Michael Nali

Chairman Joe Tauvasa

A/g Chairman Madiu Andrew

Chief Executive and General Manger Dieter Seefeld succeeded by Moses Maladina

March First F28 service to Gurney (Alotau) Milne Bay Province

June National Executive Council (Cabinet) approved the Corporatisation of the National Airline Commission

August Air Niugini Pty Limited (ANPL) incorporated on the 7th of August

September Trading operations transferred to ANPL now ANL

November Lekwa Gure Approved as Airbus Check Captain

Flying Dash 7’s F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310

Flying internationally to Sydney , Brisbane , Cairns , Honiara , Jayapura , Singapore , Manila and Hong Kong

Chief Executive and Managing Director Moses Maladina

March Fokker F28-4000 P2-ANJ into service

April First Dash 8 aircraft arrives

May Second Dash 8 aircraft arrives

June DH8-202 P2-ANK into service

November Lekwa Gure appointed Fleet Captain Check and Training Standards (Airbus / F28 / Dash 8)

First Air Niugini Web Site Launched – http://www.airniugini.com.pg

Flying Dash 7’s, Dash 8’s, F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310

Chairman of NAC Michael Bromley

Managing Director Moses Maldina

a/g Managing Director Chris Mek

Managing Director Andrew Ogil

July Andrew Ogil takes over from Moses Maladina

July Y2K ready version of Cargo System cutover

September New Jackson ’s Airport opened

December Passenger Reservation and Departure Control System declared Y2K ready

Flying Dash 8’s, F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310

Chairman of ANL Philip Kapal

Managing Director Andrew Ogil

Air Niugini leased an RJ75 (BAE146) from National Jet Systems in Australia to cater for the Christmas peak period

International Routes Brisbane , Cairns , Honiara , Manila and Singapore

Fleet Airbus A310, F28 1000, F28 4000 and Dash 8 aircraft.

Minister for Privatisation & Corporate Affairs Hon Vincent Auali

Managing Director Andrew Ogil (from Sept Peter Roberts)

Flying Dash 8’s, F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310 Airbus

Y2K completed successfully at a minimum of expenditure PX passed the Y2K test with flying colours

Air Niugini survived the dreaded Y2K bug with only minor problems. The biggest headache was the Access Control System at head office needed to have the date rolled back to a previous year so it would work correctly.

July Geneva Airline Operations System goes live

Minister for Privatisation & Corporate Affairs Hon Vincent Auali

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited Sir Michael Bromley KBE

Chief Executive Officer Peter Roberts

November Lekwa Gure appointed General Manager Flight Operations and Chief Pilot

Flying Dash 8’s, F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310 Airbus

Minster for Transport Hon Don Polye

Minister for Privatisation & Corporate Affairs Hon Vincent Auali

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited Sir Michael Bromley KBE

Chief Executive Officer Peter Roberts

April Fokker F28-4000 P2-ANR into service

August Boeing B767-319ER Arrives as ZK-NCE (for one year)

November Fokker F28-4000 P2-ANS into service

Flying Dash 8’s, F28 1000, F28 4000 and A310 Airbus followed by Boeing B767 in August

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited Joe Tauvasa

Chief Executive Officer Rod Nelson

August Boeing B767-319ER transferred to PNG Register P2-ANG (From New Zealand Register ZK-NCE)

November DH8-202 P2-ANX and P2-ANY into service.

Information Technology installs a wireless Wide Area Network to serve Engineering, Air Freight, Commercial and Engineering Training, Commercial Stores, Catering, International and Domestic Terminals.

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited Joe Tauvasa

Chief Executive Officer Rod Nelson

March Last Air Niugini Fokker F28 left Cairns airport for Port Moresby

June Fokker F100 - VH-FWH arrives

September Fokker F100 P2-ANA arrives

December F100 VH-FWH returns due to unavailability of P2-ANB

Air Niugini experienced a 6.6% growth in domestic passenger numbers and a 12.4% increase in the international market.

Appointed General Sales Agents (GSA) in Stockholm and London .

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited Joe Tauvasa

Chief Executive Officer Rod Nelson

April Introduction of e-ticketing for Staff

May Fokker F100 P2-ANB arrives - 1st revenue service was on the same day (15 th May) Port Moresby to Cairns

June DH8-202 P2-ANZ into service

August P2-ANB first F100 flight into Madang (20th)

October Optical Cable installed between floors of Air Niugini House

Air Niugini names its flagship B767 "Bulolo" as a tribute to the town of Bulolo, a place that can be truly described as the cradle of Papua New Guinea avaiation, where aviation in the country relaly began.

Chairman of Air Niugini Limited -- Jimmy Tjeong.

January CEO-- Rod Nelson departs.

GM Engineering and Maintenance -- Graham Hills, departs.

May - GM Finance -- Wasantha Kumarasiri appointed to CEO’s position.

May - GM Marketing -- Jeff Murdoch appointed.

18th July - First Fokker F100 RPT scheduled service to Buka. Operated by Capt. Mike Rosier, Capt. Naime Aihi and First Officer Paul Boga in P2-ANB (msn 11349).

Aug GM Flight Operations -- John Cappelletti Departs.

8th August -- Air Niugini recommences flights to Hong Kong (via Manila).

October -- Singapore office reservations access cut over to embeded PC's and flat screen monitors. Rest of network to follow.

October -- Captain Danny Wanma appointed as GM Flight Operations.

International Routes -- Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Honiara, Manila, Hong Kong (via Manila), Tokyo and Singapore.

Flying domestically to Buka, Goroka, Gurney, Hoskins, Kavieng, Kundiawa, Lae, Madang, Manus, Mendi, Moro, Mt Hagen, Popondetta, Port Moresby, Rabaul (Tokua), Tabubil, Tari, Vanimo, Wapenamanda and Wewak.

December - Bombardier Dash 8-315 arrives from Jordan and is registered as P2-ANM (Aircraft msn = 523) - Official launch 12 Dec 2006

20th December - Air Niugini launches online bookings (over the Internet)

Ceo of PX, Wasantha Kumarasiri, at launch of online booking engine

Chief Executive -- Wasantha Kumarasiri.
Chairman of Air Niugini Limited -- Jimmy Tjeong.

5th January -- Air Niugini sets up General Sales Agency in Suva, Fiji.

8th January -- Air Niugini introduces new Bag Tag and Boarding pass printers at Jackson's Domestic Check in counters. (IER equipment). Boarding Passes now have a 2D barcode which can be read by a suitable barcode reader.

International Routes -- Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Honiara, Manila, Hong Kong (via Manila), Tokyo and Singapore.

Air Niugini is expecting the arrival of Fokker F100 msn 11264 - P2-ANE and msn 11351 - P2-ANF

20th March 2007 - Last commercial flight of P2-ANJ - Fokker F28 - 4000 msn 11219 ?

23rd March 2007 - Inaugural flight via Honaira to Nadi

International Routes are now -- Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Honiara, Manila, Hong Kong (via Manila), Tokyo, Singapore and Nadi, Fiji

10th July - P2-ANQ finally lands ready for a clean before its next flight.

September - GM Marketing -- Jeff Murdoch leaves the company - Dominic Kaumu acts in his position.

September - Air Niugini "wet leases" a Boeing B767 from Air Macau - Reg B-MAW (24798) - as a temporary replacement for returned B767 (24785)

October - Air Niugini leases a Boeing B757 from Iceland Air to help out on the Fiji / Honaira route - Reg - TF-FII (24760)