QANTAS LAUNCHES SERVICES FROM BRISBANE TO PORT MORESBY

Brisbane | Published on 30th October 2016 at 9:31

Qantas today started a daily service between Brisbane and Port Moresby, providing customers across Australia and the global network with improved connections to Papua New Guinea.

The service operates daily, using a refreshed 174 seat B737- 800 aircraft featuring 12 business class seats, upgraded in-flight entertainment and improved seats with new covers.

It replaces Qantas’ previous, turboprop-operated service between Cairns and Port Moresby, and is timed to enable business travellers to arrive in Port Moresby at midday, take meetings in the afternoon or next morning, and return the next afternoon.

Qantas and Air Niugini have agreed to codeshare on routes between Australia and Port Moresby.*

Qantas International CEO Gareth Evans said the route would meet strong demand from the corporate market, in particular the resources sector.

“We’re really pleased to be giving our customers more seats and better connections on this important route,” Mr Evans said.

“Brisbane’s a growing hub that joins our domestic, trans-Tasman and international networks, and the clear message from our customers was that it was the ideal base for our Port Moresby operation.

“We’re proud to be continuing the role we’ve always played in supporting business, investment and trade between Australia and Papua New Guinea.”

Qantas in Papua New Guinea:

Qantas began services to PNG in the 1940s with two light aircraft stationed in Lae for local operations. Qantas’ four engine DC4 Skymaster began flying the Sydney – Port Moresby – Lae route in 1950. In 1959, Port Moresby was used as a refueling point for Qantas flights to Hong Kong.

*The Qantas and Air Niugini code share is subject to government and regulatory approvals.