Air Niugini of Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday started flights to Solomon Islands and Fiji.

The National, a local daily newspaper, said the only flight comapany of the South Pacific country will commence a twice weekly services on this route next week.

Deputy general manager Dominic Kaumu of Air Niugini said the company will also inaugurate a direct flight from Cairns of Australia to Rabaul, and is considering adding other destinations that will bypass Port Moresby, the capital of the coutry.

With tourism as one of its main income channels, flights to more destinations mean solid promotion for PNG's weak ecomony, the report said.

Kaumu said Air Niugini is hoping to tap the north Australian market for travelers wanting to fly to Fiji, particularly people who now have to fly via Brisbane.

Kaumu said Air Niugini had implemented a "pathway to recovery" since 2002 and was now operating profitably and able to make flying more affordable for PNG.

To meet the challenge of offering only e-tickets set by the International Air Transport Agency, Air Niugini would set up a system to provide passengers with on-the-spot photo identification cards to make the system work, said Kaumu.

Source: Xinhua