On behalf of the Board of Directors and the Management of National Airports Corporation Limited, Managing Director & CEO Rex Kiponge wish to apologise to the travelling passengers, stakeholders, business communities and the general public for the NO FLIGHTS INTO NADZAB AND KIUNGA AIRPORTS yesterday 3rd September 2022.
NAC embraces and values the safety and security of the traveling public, the business community and the stakeholders of the civil aviation industry as it’s a paramount consideration for the efficient and sustainable operation of NAC.
As the regulator of the civil aviation industry CASA PNG without according NAC, the right to a fair hearing abruptly issued cessation of operations for the Nadzab and Kiunga Airports on the 31st of August, 2022 which is causing a crisis.
On the 1st of September, 2022, aggrieved by CASA PNGs decision, NAC instructed its lawyers to obtain urgent orders to stay the Decision of CASA PNG to purportedly revoke the NAC‘s Aerodrome Operating Certificates and issuance of the NOTAM for Nadzab and Kiunga Airports, respectively.
NAC Technical Team and Mr Kiponge met with Air Niugini Technical Team on Friday morning, 02nd September 2022 at NAC Board Room and went through 21-findings for Nadzab and 7-findings for Kiunga.
Air Niugini went away and did their independent risk assessments on the 21-findings for Nadzab and 7-findings for Kiunga Airports. Based on their independent assessment, they released the Media Statement to resume flights into Nadzab and Kiunga yesterday 3rd September 2022.
However, at 9.04pm on Sunday night, CASA Director wrote to Air Niugini and STOPPED them from resuming normal flights into Nadzab and Kiunga Airports. The issue is now shifted to Air Niugini by CASA PNG. CASA PNG must explain to the traveling public, the business community and all stakeholders, including NAC as to why it has issued the sudden direction at 9.04pm to cancel all resumed flights to Nadzab and Kiunga Airports again which is a breach of the Court Orders of the 1st of September, 2022 by the National Court.
In the interest of the affected traveling public, stakeholders, business communities and the public at large, NAC has done its part in getting Nadzab and Kiunga Airports opened for normal flights operation.
NAC considers the importance of the air services for the movement of people and cargo, and the overall economic and social development of the country, hence is taking every step to work closely with CASA PNG to address the findings administratively to resume flight operations back into Nadzab and Kiunga airports.
NAC is sending their technical team to Nadzab through Goroka today Sunday 4th September 2022 to rectify some findings at the Nadzab Airport which relate to the Safety Management System and Quality Management System as part of the ongoing training.
Also, today Sunday 4th September 2022, eight ( of Senior Persons will sit for their Fit and Proper Person test with CASA PNG to rectify the score value that carries 10 points that disqualified Certification.
NAC expresses deep concern about the impact that is having on our business and the Regular Public Transport (RTP) caused by the cessation and cancellation of flights into Nadzab and Kiunga Airports.
NAC is appealing to the Minister for Civil Aviation and Transport, Hon. Walter Schnaubelt to be neutral and hear NAC’s side of the story by giving the NAC Board and Management the opportunity to be heard with a view to finding a solution instead of defending CASA PNG alone which is the fair thing to do.
“Under the Transport and Civil Aviation Ministerial Determination, NAC falls under our Ministry. Therefore, the Board and Management are very concerned as to why our Minister Hon. Walter Schaubelt is singling out NAC to fend for itself while focusing only on CASA PNG in this crisis affecting the general public,”said Managing Director & CEO Kiponge.
NAC maintains that there are no safety risks for flights to resume into Nadzab and Kiunga Airports and states that this was evident from the independent risk assessment carried out by Air Niugini on Friday the 2nd of September 2022.
Meanwhile, both Nadzab and Kiunga airports are open with no RPT.