The reception was overwhelming as people cheered and clapped their hands at the airport tarmac to witness the ground breaking ceremony after the airport was closed in June this year following a civil unrest that saw the burning of a Dash 8 Air Niugini aircraft.
The Mendi Airport Upgrade project was launched by Minister for Civil Aviation and Kandep MP Alfred Manase, and Member for Mendi-Munihu and Works & Implementation Minister, Michael Nali.
Minister Manase told the over 2,000 people that work on the upgrade of the airport will commence without delay.