Air Niugini (PX, Port Moresby) has resumed services to and from Hoskins in Papua New Guinea's West New Britain Province, following the suspension of operations due to the eruption of Mt Ulawun on June 26. The eruption deposited volcanic ash across a significant area including the airfield.
The flag carrier said in a social media post that it was now operating its full schedule except for late afternoon fight PX244 from Port Moresby to Hoskins, which continues to be suspended and rescheduled to the following morning. A review of this suspension next week will determine whether to reinstate the overnighting of aircraft and crew in Hoskins, the airline said.
Air Niugini added that the decision to resume flights followed its own risk assessment over recent days, which came in the wake of a move by the country's National Airports Corporation (NAC) to reopen the airfield for operations.
Hoskins currently sees just two airlines, Air Niugini and PNG Air (CG, Port Moresby), both of which have now resumed their flights to Hoskins which, according to the ch-aviation capacities module, connect it with Port Moresby (Air Niugini, 8x weekly), Lae Nadzab (Air Niugini, 4x weekly; PNG Air, 6x weekly), and Rabaul (Air Niugini, 4x weekly; PNG Air, 7x weekly).
