Mount Hagen runway restrictions hit PNG airline services

By Andrew Curran.

Papua New Guinea’s National Airports Corporation (NAC) has reduced the operational length of Mount Hagen (Kagamuga) Airport’s main runway to 980 metres until mid-October, while work on the central section of the runway gets underway.

Air Niugini says it will continue to service the airport, albeit using lightly loaded DHC-8-Q200s, while the other scheduled operator servicing the airport, PNG Air, has suspended flights there.

“(The) NAC acknowledges the inconvenience that will be caused as a result of this,” the state-owned airport operator said this week. “However, we emphasise that this upgrade work is necessary and temporary and will ultimately deliver a stronger, upgraded runway capable of supporting A220 and B737 operations into Mt Hagen by December 2026.”

Efforts to improve Mount Hagen Airport

Located in the Western Highlands Province on the country’s main island, Mount Hagen is one of Papua New Guinea’s most important airports but, as Aero South Pacific recently reported, a report by the Independent Consumer and Competition Commission described the airport as “basic”.

In a bid to improve the country’s aviation infrastructure, the National Airports Corporation is busy upgrading several of Papua New Guinea’s airports, including Kiunga (UNG), Hoskins (HKN), Alotau (GUR) and Aropa (AIE).

Mount Hagen has two asphalt runways. Its primary runway, 12/30, is 2,190 metres long. The PGK39.4 million (USD8.8 million) upgrade will involve a 75 mm hot asphalt overlay of 12/30, runway grooving, new pavement markings, aircraft parking bay improvements and drainage upgrades. The shortened runway length sees Mount Hagen temporarily assigned a Category 4 rating.

PNG Air pauses Mount Hagen flights, Air Niugini downsizes operating aircraft

PNG Air normally flies to Mount Hagen from Port Moresby (POM), Wewak (WWK), Tabubil (TBG), Kiunga (UNG) and Mendi (MDU). The airline has recently discontinued Dash 8 operations, relying exclusively on ATR72/42 aircraft. Both are too large to fly to Mount Hagen while runway access is so limited.

“Under these temporary conditions, PNG Air aircraft cannot operate safely to or from Mount Hagen,” an advisory on PNG Air’s website reads. “We will resume Mount Hagen services once it is confirmed suitable for our aircraft.”

Air Niugini flies to Mount Hagen from Kiunga and Port Moresby. In a September 22 news alert, the airline said it would downsize its operating aircraft to Q200s and they would only carry 18 passengers.

“These restrictions are necessary to ensure our operations remain in compliance with all CASA- and aircraft-manufacturer-approved safety margins and aircraft performance capabilities,” the airline said.

Airport inconvenience worth the pain

By mid-October, Air Niugini hopes to restart Q300 flights to Mount Hagen when it reverts to a Category 5 airport. But the airline says that until the final runway works are complete, those flights will also have payload restrictions. However, Air Niugini also says that the work underway to improve Mount Hagen Airport will be worth the pain.

“These upgrades will deliver long-term benefits by enhancing airport infrastructure and supporting more efficient and reliable airline operations into Mt Hagen in the future,” the news alert adds.

“Air Niugini continues to work closely with NAC and anticipates commencing B737 and A220 jet operations into Kagamuga Airport as soon as the runway improvement works are completed later this year, and in time for the Christmas period.”

There are some conflicting dates being published about when the runway restrictions will begin easing at Mount Hagen. PNG Air and Air Niugini are saying October 5, while the National Airports Corporation says October 15.

Photo: National Airports Corporation.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com