Airline’s staff apartments open

Air Niugini’s new staff accommodation complex, next to its head office at Seven Mile in Port Moresby, was opened recently. The eight-storey building has 138 units, including one and two-bedroom, studio and dual key apartments. It also has a swimming pool, gym, restaurant, bar, laundry and dry cleaning for commercial use.

The Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, who officially opened the PGK100 million building, praised the airline for providing staff with accommodation of international standard.

The building will accommodate pilots, engineers, management executives and other contract staff.

It will also provide accommodation for airline staff outside Port Moresby who are visiting for training and conference purposes.

The project is expected to save Air Niugini PGK18million annually in accommodation costs.

Air Niugini board chairman, Sir Frederick Reiher, said the accommodation complex has been built as close as possible to the airport, terminals and offices. It is part of the airline’s ongoing bid to increase efficiencies and reduce operating costs.

“This staff accommodation complex is a great, long-term asset, which will support Air Niugini’s operations well into the future,” he said. ■

Grand opening ... (clockwise from left) the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill, delivers the keynote address at the official opening of Air Niugini’s new staff apartments; Air Niugini executives Simon Foo, Sir Frederick Reiher and Tahawar Durrani; a Manus dance group welcomes the PM; the PM unveils the plaque, while Cardinal John Ribat, Sir Frederick Reiher, and government ministers William Duma and Alfred Manase look on; Air Niugini’s Sir Frederick Reiher and Simon Foo with Evelyn Foo and Lady Helen Reiher; the PGK100 million building near the airport.