ON THIS DAY IN OUR HISTORY: Air policy is a vendetta, says Namaliu

The Government’s tough new measures against foreign airline operators in PNG have come under fire from the Opposition.

Pangu Party leader Rabbie Namaliu has said the move to cancel licences of foreign operators unless they sell 75 per cent controlling interests to nationals is “nothing more than a personal vendetta against Talair” by Civil Aviation Minister Hugo Berghuser.

Mr Namaliu said any moves by Mr Berghuser to cripple Talair’s operations in the country would face stiff opposition.

Mr Berghuser announced earlier this month that the Government would not issue any more licences to foreign companies and that all existing foreign licences would cease at the end of this year.

Talair, the country’s largest third-level operator, is among the foreign-owned companies that will be severely affected.

Mr Namaliu said Mr Berghuser had launched an “outrageous witch hunt” against Talair, which had served PNG for 40 years.

“It appears Mr Berghuser is afraid that Talair may threaten the virtual monopoly on trunk routes currently held by Air Niugini,” said Mr Namaliu.

“Currently, Talair has only one aircraft on these routes, so where is the threat?

“Mr Berghuser should be encouraging competition which inevitably benefits travellers.”

Mr Namaliu said national involvement in Talair should be a matter of discussion between Mr Berghuser and Talair owner Dennis Buchanan.

“Talair has a proven track record of serving people in remote areas and deserves much better treatment from Mr Berghuser,” Mr Namaliu said.

Western Province Premier Norbert Makmop also criticised Mr Berghuser’s stated intention to stop Talair operating on Air Niugini routes.

Mr Makmop said Mr Berghuser should realise that Talair was providing services to parts of the country Air Niugini did not reach.

“Mr Berghuser must appreciate these services and leave the main routes open for competition,” he said.

“People should decide for themselves which airline they wish to travel on.

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