Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Air Brunei set to offer competition for Papua New Guinea carrier

Posted at 01:26 on 03 March, 2006 UTC

Air Brunei is set to be the first competitor to Air Niugini to fly in and out of Papua New Guinea from next year.

The Post Courier newspaper reports the Singaporean budget carrier Tiger Air and another airline from Australia are said to be interested.

The PNG Transport Minister Don Polye has announced an open air policy which is expected to lead to an end of Air Niugini’s current monopoly.

Mr Polye said airports such as Gurney in Milne Bay Province and Tokua in East New Britain Province would be upgraded to receive international flights.

Government officials said Brunei had shown a big interest in entering PNG and preliminary discussions had already started between the airline and the government.