Back on the radar: Air Niugini to relaunch direct AKL services after 26 years

Travellers will soon be able to fly direct between Auckland and Port Moresby, with Papua New Guinea's national carrier, Air Niugini, launching non-stop services three-times a week between the two cities from 17 November.

Auckland Airport Chief Customer Officer Scott Tasker said the route would strengthen connections between the two Pacific neighbours. 

“Air Niugini’s return puts that direct connection back on the map,” Mr Tasker said.

“It will make it easier for families to spend time together, businesses to build relationships, students and seasonal workers to travel, and visitors to experience more of Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.”

Connecting New Zealand with Papua New Guinea is a move that builds on the emerging tourism industry and meets New Zealand travellers’ appetite for new frontiers and adventures. The flight schedules have been designed to provide additional options for New Zealand travellers through seamless onward flight connections to Air Niugini’s Asian network which includes Manila, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore. Air Niugini is currently adding new aircraft to its fleet to further strengthen Papua New Guinea’s unique geographical location as a ‘Pacific Connector’ to Asia.

With exceptional natural assets and cultural experiences, and as home to the renowned Kokoda Track, the destination offers new experiences for adventure seekers and nature lovers. Papua New Guinea also boasts exceptional marine biodiversity and WWII wrecks which make it a bucket list destination for divers. The region is also popular with war historians, given its strong WWII heritage.

The new route will provide New Zealand visitors with direct access to Papua New Guinea, improve connections for expatriate communities, and support students travelling to New Zealand to study. It will also benefit New Zealand employers of seasonal workers, who accounted for 22% of arrivals from Papua New Guinea in 2023/24. Established between the two countries in 2012, the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme has shown steady growth with the latest 2023/24 figures reporting an increase of 158%.

ENDS

Note to editors

Northern Winter 26/27 flight schedule effective 17 November 2026

Ex AKL Wed, Fri, Sun

PX32 AKLPOM 0900 /1200

Ex POM Tue, Thu, Sat

PX31 POMAKL 0950/1830

Onward northbound connections ex POM

Wed – NRT at 1410, HKG at 1450, SIN at 1500, MNL at 1640

Fri – HKG at 1430, MNL at 1640

Sun – HKG at 1430, MNL at 1640

Southbound Asia into POM (all arrival times into POM)

Tue – MNL 0510, SIN at 0525, HKG at 0530

Thu – MNL at 0510, SIN at 0525, HKG at 0530, NRT at 0530

Sat – MNL at 0510, HKG at 0510