KLIA NOW OFFERS FLIGHTS TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA

SEPANG, Oct 30 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) is offering connections to Papua New Guinea from Wednesday as Air Niugini, the national carrier of Papua New Guinea, made its first landing at KLIA Wednesday night.

The carrier operates one flight weekly, flying from its hub Port Moresby
to KLIA every Wednesday, using the Boeing 757 aircraft with 189 seats.

Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd's managing director Bashir Ahmad said Air
Niugini's presence marked a new market for KLIA as it was the first airline to
offer flights to the Pacific Islands in the Oceania region.

"Malaysia Airports hope to attract more airlines from the region in future
to fly to Malaysia," he said in his speech at the welcoming ceremony of the
arrival of the first Air Niugini here Wednesday night.

His speech was read by the Malaysia Airports' senior general manager
(operation services) Azmi Murad.

Also present was Deputy Transport Minister Lajim Ukim, who said the direct
connectivity to Port Moresby through Air Nuigini will further grow relations
between Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

Malaysia is the fourth largest investor in Papua New Guinea and the new
flights available between the two countries will create new collaborations in
the near future, he said.