Agreed. On the domestic side the flights are 1 hr - so I wasn't overly worried about the hard product. Can put up with anything for an hour. The issue is the delays. Perhaps PNG Air is better at on time arrivals, but who can say. But those delays for International flights were something. One hotelier told me China Air hired away 18 pilots and that's why they've been having so much trouble. Not sure if that's true or not. As for hard product on Int'l routes - as you say, it's not too bad. But Int'l flights result in one usually having a connection and this can cause issues. Thus the "buffer" day recco I made.

Btw - How was Honaria? Did you enjoy it? I'd like to pop over there for some scuba, heard its a good spot.