ARRIVE AT AIRPORT 3 HOURS BEFORE DEPARTURE; AIR NIUGINI
WITH the recent influx of passengers and overcrowding at the Jackson’s Domestic Terminal at this peak festive period, AIR Niugini has advised its valued customers not to arrive at the airport more than three hours before their scheduled flight, as that leads to passenger congestion during the Christmas peak period.
The rule of thumb is straight forward, arrive at the terminal three hours before your scheduled departure time.
The airline’s Officer In Charge(OIC) Captain Samiu Taufa said this following questions that were raised about the waiting time for lines outside the Port Moresby Domestic Terminal.
Check-in counters for each flight open three hours before departure, and this is when airport security allows passengers to enter the terminal.
If anyone arrives more than three hours early there is no other option but to wait while passengers on sooner flights are checked in and proceed to the departure lounge.
Capt Taufa said“ Ordinarily we would advise passengers that they can arrive much earlier, but Christmas is the peak time for air travel in PNG with fifty per cent more than the usual daily number of passengers. As such we need to be cautious and advise passengers not to arrive too early.
“There is simply not enough space inside terminals to accommodate the massive increase in passengers, so the only people allowed inside are those proceeding directly to check-in counters.”
This is the same situation as last year and years before, hence Air Niugini is urging passengers to wait until the right time to arrive and to listen carefully to the direction of Air Niugini staff who will be on hand to assist and co-ordinate the check in process from outside to directing inside to check-in for the rest of the peak period.
air Niugini is now asking valued customers to co-operate with staff who work tirelessly during this busy peak period.
NAC and Air Niugini security guards are required to check each passenger at the front door to check that they have a ticket, and that it is for a flight that has opened for check-in.
“I appeal to our customers to not arrive several hours before your departure as you will be waiting outside the terminal until your flight is called. There is an incorrect idea that if passengers arrive many hours early they can check-in earlier, but that is not true. Also, tickets cannot be changed or re-booked in the Departure Terminal, this must be done at an Air Niugini sales office or through a travel agent.” Capt Taufa added
Air Niugini acknowledges that Christmas is a special time for families and assures customers that its staff are working tirelessly throughout this busy period to ensure passengers are checked in efficiently and travel safely to their destinations with their family and loved ones.
