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PNG’s State Enterprise Minister says Air Niugini will Fiji Airways has outlined its ‘Travel Ready’ program,
need about K300 million(US$86 million) to revive and re-fleet to return to flying once border restrictions ease. It includes
its operations. Sasindran Muthuvel says re-fleeting was the onboard, medically-qualified Customer Wellness Champions
key to the success of the airline. Air Niugini declared a profit for every flight on the Fiji Airways international network.
of K500,000 (US$145.59) in 2019. Facemasks will be mandatory for travel on both domestic
and international flights. All customer-facing staff will wear
Solomon Airlines has extended its suspension of Personal Protective Equipment.
international passenger flights until 31 August 2020. Refer-
ring to an earlier suspension, which has now been extended, Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. will provide Nauru
Manager Commercial Colin Sigimanu said: “This action has Airlines with a 10-pallet position B737-300SF freighter conver-
been taken in consultation with the Solomon Islands Govern- sion. Nauru Airlines will use the AEI B737-300SF freighter to
ment and is a necessary precaution due to the uncertainty of transport fresh food, mail, medicines and other freight from
COVID-19 and the resulting current border restrictions.” various points in the Pacific. The freighter will also be used to
support charter flights in the region.
United Airlines says it’s running an estimated 15%
of its usual flights in the north Pacific through July 5, 2020. Boeing hopes to conduct key certification flights
During this period there are daily flights Guam-Honolulu, on the 737 MAX this month (June), international business
Honolulu-Guam, three Guam-Narita and Guam-Saipan flights media is reporting. Boeing resumed production of the plane
weekly, and a small number of flights between Guam and on 27 May, after stopping in January. If the test certification
Palau, and Guam-Yap, as well as Island hopper flights con- process is successful, the MAX could return to service ahead
necting Guam with FSM. of schedule.

THE SHIPPING NEWS The United States has redirected US$1.64 million in Capi-
tal Improvement Project redirected (CIP) funds to the Ameri-
Two Cook Islands-registered fuel tankers are being can Samoa Government to make emergency repairs to the M.V.
investigated under suspicion of smuggling oil out from Iran in Manu’atele Ferry. The ferry is critical for passenger and cargo
defiance of international embargoes. The Ocean Garnet and transport between Tutuila and the Manua Islands.
Free Sea are alleged to have loaded crude or fuel oil in the
Middle East Gulf region, while their automatic identification Dubai-based P&O Maritime Logistics has secured a con-
signals were switched off. However Maritime Cook Islands’ tract to build two vessels to support Ok Tedi Mining Limited’s
representative in Athens, Angelos Chatzigeorgiou, said the (OTML) exports. The vessels will be built at Fujian Mawei
initial vetting processes for the tankers did not indicate any Shipbuilding Limited in China, and once completed, will oper-
sanctionable activities and the vessels had valid and current ate primarily between Kiunga in the Western Province and Port
protection and indemnity insurance and other certificates Moresby.
were in order.

The pandemic continues to affect the shipping industry.
Neptune Pacific has introduced a freight tariff increase on the
NZ-Fiji and Australia - Fiji services. Swire has implemented
a rate restoration on their Asia to Fiji routes. Temporary
COVID19 surcharges have been introduced by some shipping
companies operating in Solomon Islands and Nauru.

Quarantine regulations are causing additional delays
continue in Solomon Islands and Marshall Islands due to Swire Shipping’s first 2400teu newbuild vessel, M.V.

quarantine regulations. Kiribati continue to enforce a five- Changsha, is now servicing Swire’s South East Asia to PNG and
day quarantine period once the cargo is landed onshore and Solomon Islands service. The vessel is part of Swire’s fleet
Tuvalu has a nine-day quarantine period. renewal program, which began in 2015.

Islands Business, June 2020 35