Air Niugini operations in Alotau, Milne Bay have been disrupted since yesterday following the vandalism on a telecommunications tower in the area.
The damage to the telecommunications infrastructure has directly affected the airline’s systems, including reservation at the Alotau sales office and the check-in system at Gurney Airport.
As a result, airline staff have been unable to access the Sabre system, which is essential for passenger bookings and check-in processes.
Air Niugini has reported that the disruption has impacted many passengers travelling into and out of Alotau, including transit passengers.
The airline also reported that a number of customers particularly students travelling to commence their academic year have been affected. Some passengers have experienced delays while others have been stranded due to the system outage.
As part of contingency arrangements, students are advised to email the relevant scholarship team to obtain copies of their tickets and arrange rebooking online where possible. The Sales Supervisor in Alotau is aware of the situation and is assisting affected passengers within the limitations of the current system outage.
Moreover, Air Niugini’s Officer in Charge, Captain Samiu Taufa, urged communities to protect public facilities and essential service infrastructure.
Captain Taufa said the airline is closely monitoring the situation and will provide updates as services are restored.
