This is a very special issue of Paradise, as it celebrates the 50th anniversary of Air Niugini, which started flying on November 1, 1973.

The magazine has a 38-page section devoted to the anniversary, with recollections from veteran pilots and a year-by-year timeline of the airline’s history.

The timeline references events such as the first flight from Port Moresby to Lae, transporting troops to a war zone, the graduation of the airline’s first female pilot, the introduction of e-ticketing, and the growth of the fleet from DC3s to Boeing 767s.

Pictorially, Air Niugini’s most famous passenger, Pope John Paul II, is shown descending the stairs after a flight with the airline. We also feature photos of the uniforms worn by flight attendants over the years and the executives who have led the company.

There are, of course, photos of the planes that have comprised the fleet during the half a century.

The veteran pilots who tell their stories include Lekwa Gure, Granger Narara and Garry Honour, who kindly supplied Paradise with many of the nostalgic photos you’ll see on the pages.

As usual, the magazine has articles on travel, culture, business, books, food and wine.

Journey to an island homestay with us in PNG’s Duke of York Islands, find out the trending places to eat and things to do in Brisbane, take a 1681-kilometre train ride to Cairns, and read our comprehensive rundown of some of the best business hotels at Air Niugini’s key destinations from Hong Kong to Singapore and Palau.

In the business section, we report that things are looking up for the PNG economy, and the Government has released a five-year economic plan.

Looking for somewhere to eat in Port Moresby? We review one of the city’s newest dining spots, Bakeology Cafe and Bakery.

The annual PNG Fashion Festival is featured in a photo special, showing some of the country’s most innovative and colourful designs, while we also have photos from the Melanesian Arts and Culture Festival and the Port Moresby marathon.

Robert Upe, Editor

Advertiser:  Paradise magazine Website: airniuginiparadise.com Email:  paradise@businessadvantageinternational.com Phone: