Mendi airport

Member for Mendi-Munihu Raphael Tonpi in a statement said work on the new Mendi Airport terminal and runway have finally been completed following the closure of this airport in 2018 after an Air Niugini Dash-8 plane was burnt.

Tonpi said it took a lot of time and resources to bring back this service services and to earn the trust of the service providers like Air Niugini.

“But in the meantime, we are in talks with PNG Air to provide service in and out of Mendi on a weekly basis,” he said.

The construction of the new terminal building and other associated works is continuing with physical progress at 54 percent.

The National Airports Corporation would like to thank the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Asian Development Bank, and other stakeholders for their continued support in implementing the Mendi Airport Upgrade project and other high-impact airport infrastructure projects.

NAC clarified that the Government and the Asian Development Bank funded the Mendi Airport Upgrade project.

The project is part of a series of impact aviation projects implemented under the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program or CADIP.

The National Airports Corporation was clarifying the status on the development of the airport following a report on the media that works on the Mendi airport is on hold.

It says works is continuing with an accomplishment of 60% physical progress to date.

The Aviation state agency has also clarified that there are no landowner disputes and the redevelopment on the airport is carried out within declared aerodrome area.

The Mendi Airport is currently undergoing a K40.2 million development under the Civil Aviation Development Program (CADIP) implemented by the NAC.

Recently a landowner and busissman and the Southern Highlands Provincial Government raised concerns over projects ono-completion.

Landowner and businessman, Alex Awesa, queried the delay in the completion of the Mendi Airport Redevelopment saying the delay is creating an economic vacuum.

Southern Highlands Governor, William Powi, concurred and said the Provincial Government has raised the matter with the NAC.

Acting Airport Supervisor, Solomon Abraham, confirmed to Loop PNG that the National Airports Corporation sent out a cautionary notice to airlines.

Meaning if any airline wishes to commence flights to the airport they can do so, however at their own risk.

 “On Wednesday the NAC issued a cautionary advice after 4:06 pm, meaning airlines can resume operations but at their own risk,” said the acting airport supervisor.

The Airport Supervisor has summited a list of everything that was stolen and damaged to the criminal investigations division.