PNG Air (CG, Port Moresby) has resumed services to Losuia on June 29, 2018, after a year-long gap caused by the damage of the airport's infrastructure in an incident of communal violence in summer 2017, the Post Courier has reported.
The carrier will serve the airport on the small Kiriwina Island off the eastern coast of Papua 2x weekly, connecting it to the capital Port Moresby via Alotau. Flights will be operated with Dash 8-100 equipment.
Flights to Losuia were suspended last year after a mob destroyed the terminal and dug a hole in the runway in post-electoral violence. Since then, the infrastructure has been repaired and tested. As part of the peace settlement, the authorities have paid PGK500,000 kinas (USD152,000) to the local clans.
We are confident that the airstrip itself is operational and poses no safety risk to our crew, passengers or aircraft and we have been reassured that the situation on the island has stabilised and there will not be a repeat of the unfortunate occurrences in July 2017," PNG Air Acting CEO Paul Abbot has said.
