PNG Civil Aviation Authority Grounds Airlink

Airlink's fleet of seven aircraft has been grounded with effect 31 May and the company has been forced to surrender its Air Operator's Certificate. The grounding follows the interim outcome of an investigation into a crash of one of its aircraft at Goroka in the Eastern Highlands. Following the findings an audit was carried out and the airline was found to have several safety deficiencies requiring prompt rectification. Airlink is a 3rd level operator with services to Madang, East Sepik and Sandaun, Morobe, East and West New Britain, Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands and Buka. The traveling public is now having a real problem moving around a landscape in which there are few roads and air travel is an essential part of everyday life. Likewise, newspaper proprietors are unable to move their wares out into the provinces and essential foodstuffs will need to be moved by alternate means that may be inappropriate for perishables. Loss of a regional air service is felt more keenly in PNG than anywhere else on Earth. Imagery of the Goroka accident is at this link