Page 26 - Tropic Magazine Issue 20

TROPIC • TOURISM

Flight stimulator

AIR TRAVEL
Exciting enhancements have
touched down at Cairns Airport.
Words Renee Cluff
The first stage of a $55 million
redevelopment of the domestic terminal
at Cairns Airport has been unveiled, with
a host of new shops. Food and beverage 2
options now include local favourites The
Pier Bar, along with Oporto and Hungry Port Moresby from Cairns every Friday.
Jacks. Travellers will also soon be able It allows travellers a full business day in New Air Niugini
to enjoy White Whale Coffee Roasters the PNG capital without the considerable
and Rattle ‘n’ Hum. In the retail space, expense of an overnight stay. The airline’s Services
surf brand Billabong, Kikki K Stationery Managing Director Alan Milne said PX098 departs Port Moresby on
and gifts and Relay will all be open by passengers can also make direct same- Thursdays at 5:00pm returning
day connections via Port Moresby to from Cairns on Friday 6.30AM as
Honiara in the Solomon Islands and Nadi PX 091.
in Fiji. “Air Niugini was the first overseas
airline to service Cairns and these latest Return flight PX098 departs Port
new connections and same day travel Moresby Fridays at 5:00pm and
options demonstrate the airline’s long- arrives in Cairns at 6:25pm.
term commitment to the Cairns region,”
he said. Air Niugini now operates 10 Corporation. “The Yirrganydji traditional
return services between Cairns and Port owners’ knowledge and appreciation
Moresby every week. of the airport land’s environmental and
Outside the terminals, indigenous cultural values is helping us preserve
rangers are taking care of the extensive the land and engage our staff to be more
environmental reserve located on airport connected to country,” said Airport CEO
land. The Yirrganydji Land and Sea Norris Carter. The land takes in Redden
Rangers oversee revegetation, weed and Island, Ellie Point and parts of Stratford
rubbish removal, wildlife monitoring, and Aeroglen.
fire management and the conservation
of cultural heritage sites surrounding
the Barron River estuary. The rangers
1
also play a key role in helping the Cairns
Christmas. “The terminal upgrade will community to understand the significant 1. Oporto is now open at Cairns Airport
provide passengers with a real sense of environmental and cultural heritage 2. Air Niugini plane
the region and all it has to offer, with values of this unique area. The work is 3. The Yirrganydji Land and Sea Rangers
the new line-up of retail and food and part of a partnership Cairns Airport has MORE: cairnsairport.com.au
beverage options showcasing the region’s signed with the Dawul Wuru Indigenous
local produce to the world,” said Chief
Commercial Officer, Tracey Groves.
At the same time, newly-reconfigured
boarding gates 14, 15 and 16 have seen
their first passengers, cutting down
on congestion. The entire upgrade
is generating 350 jobs during the
construction phase and there’ll be an extra
150 permanent staff on completion. The
work’s due to be finished late next year.
Over in the international terminal, Air
Niugini’s new schedule is now in effect,
which includes a same-day return trip to 3

26 • Tropic • Issue 20