Multi-billion Port Moresby Airport redevelopment kicks off

By Andrew Curran.

Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister has launched the Port Moresby International Airport (POM) Redevelopment Project, which will be delivered in four phases over six and a half years.

Phase One, scheduled to take around seven months to complete, will involve a 110-metre extension to the overcrowded 35-year-old domestic terminal. Three-quarters of the PGK25 million (USD5.7 million) Phase One cost will be funded by the government, with airport operator National Airports Corporation (NAC) covering the remainder.

The four phases are expected to cost PGK2.5 billion (USD570 million) and be completed in time for Port Moresby to host the APEC Economic Leaders' Summit in 2033.

“This project marks the beginning of a new era for aviation infrastructure in Papua New Guinea,” said NAC Chairman Jacob Roland Anga at the June 5 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“What was designed for the needs of Papua New Guinea 35 years ago is no longer sufficient to meet the demands of today’s travelling public.”

Phase One will also include upgrades to airfield lighting and power systems.

“Phase One ensures immediate congestion relief while building the foundation for sustainable expansion,” Anga added.

Redevelopment to deal with passenger congestion

Phase Two will modernise and expand the domestic terminal, adding new check-in counters, aerobridges, baggage handling systems, lounges, retail areas, and improved accessibility features.

Phase Three will enlarge apron areas to accommodate Air Niugini’s growing fleet.

Phase Four will include a new international terminal, an extension of the runway from 2,750 metres to 3,500 metres, new cargo facilities, and a range of other infrastructure upgrades.

“When completed, Port Moresby International Airport will stand as a symbol of modern progress,” Anga said.

Approximately 1.68 million passengers passed through Port Moresby Airport in 2025, making it Papua New Guinea’s busiest airport. The domestic terminal frequently struggles to cope with passenger volumes, with security screening areas, in particular, becoming a well-known bottleneck.

Based on current forecasts, Anga said passenger numbers are expected to rise to 2.5 million annually by the mid-2030s and 3.7 million by the mid-2040s.

PNG Government invests heavily in airport upgrades

The Papua New Guinea Government is investing heavily in airport upgrades across the country.

This expenditure is spread across major donor-backed infrastructure programmes and several individual redevelopment projects managed by NAC.

These include the Civil Aviation Development Investment Program (CADIP), a multi-tranche initiative co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). CADIP Phases One and Two have committed approximately PGK2.3 billion (USD651.5 million) to upgrade 21 national airports and rural airstrips across Papua New Guinea.

The redevelopment of Port Moresby International Airport is a standalone project. It is financially underpinned by Asian Development Bank sovereign lending, matched by counterpart funding from the Papua New Guinea Government.

Photo: National Airports Corporation.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com