Airlink (Papua New Guinea)

Airlink was an airline based in Madang, Papua New Guinea that ceased operations in late July 2007.[1] It provided high-frequency scheduled and charter services to outlying regions of Papua New Guinea. Its main base was Madang Airport, with hubs at Rabaul Airport, Kavieng Airport, Wewak International Airport and Mount Hagen Airport.[2]

For other uses, see Airlink (disambiguation).

IATA ICAO Callsign
ND
Founded1989
Commenced operationsJune 1990
Ceased operations27 July 2007
Operating basesMadang Airport
Hubs
Fleet sizeSee Fleet below
DestinationsSee Services below
HeadquartersMadang, Papua New Guinea

Code data

History

The airline was established in 1989 and started scheduled operations in June 1990. It bought out the assets of Talair in the New Guinea Islands Region in October 1990. The company suffered considerable hardships due to the 1994 Rabaul volcanic eruptions, including the loss of four aircraft.[2]

Accidents and incidents
  • On 30 March 2007, an Airlink Embraer EMB-110-P1 Bandeirante carrying newspapers crashed in West New Britain province between Gasmata and Kandrian. Both pilots were instantly killed whilst faulty maintenance is suspected.
  • Two weeks later on 13 April 2007, Airlink Flight P2ALK, a Cessna 404 Titan crashed on landing at Goroka Airport. The three women and the pilot on board survived. The plane was in a holding pattern over the airport and waiting for low clouds to lift. Pilot error is believed to be the cause as the pilot proceeded to land in the wrong direction on a one-way strip and overran the runway.

Airlink suffered two fatal crashes in 1999, when an Islander crashed near Hoskins in West New Britain Province, killing all aboard, and a couple of months later when an Embraer EMB-110-P1 Bandeirante flew into terrain on the Eastern approach to Goroka (again, pilot error).

Shutdown

Airlink ceased operations on 27 July 2007 as a result of "business difficulties". It had 200 employees. The airline's operating licence had only been re-issued a few days earlier, after a period of suspension following two serious accidents in May. One plane had crashed in West New Britain while a second had crashed on landing in Goroka.[3]

The loss of the airline was described as "sad and disappointing" by outgoing Madang Governor Sir Peter Barter, who said that the closure would affect the transport of people and cargo, including vital medical supplies.[1]

Services

Airlink operated services to the following domestic scheduled destinations (at January 2005): Bialla, Buka, Cape Orford, Gasmata, Gonalia, Goroka, Hoskins, Jacquinot Bay, Kandrian, Kavieng, Kiunga, Lae, Lihir Island, Madang, Mount Hagen, Namatanai, Nissan Island, Port Moresby, Rabaul, Tabubil, Tadji, Talasea, Tari, Vanimo and Wewak.

Fleet

The Airlink fleet consisted of the following aircraft (at March 2007):[2]

Previously operated

At January 2005 the airline also operated :

- Cessna 402

- DHC6 - Twin Otter

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References
  1. "Business difficulties". The National. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
  2. Flight International 27 March 2007
  3. "Airlink closes down", Post Courier, 30 July 2007
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