Tufi will soon undergo some changes following the inaugural Link PNG flight to Tufi. According to Transport and Infrastructure Minister William Samb, Tufi is soon to be made into Northern’s second airport. He said that Tufi will be part of the civil aviation development programme phase two (Cadip 2).
He added that the government had an overall Connect PNG programme. “The three modes of transportation are currently in our medium-term transport development plan,” he said. “For air transport, we have partnered with rural airstrips authority to progress the partnership with mission aviation fellowship and civil aviation (department) and regional airports to support the main airports. Asian Development Bank, based on their study, included Tufi as one of the regional airports to be featured in the Cadip2 programme.”
Samb also disclosed that the commitment of the government of K2 million will go directly to Ijivitari and the Civil Aviation Authority to partner with the district development authority to start with the transformation of the airport - which includes the lighting system, the sealing and the fencing.
In addition, the development of jetties will also be part of the major changes - where Tufi is included to upgrade its existing jetty. “We will send our technical team together with the Ijivitari DDA team to assess the jetty on how we can improve that facility to support the Tufi airport,” he said.
Part of the flight included Minister for Health and HIV-AIDS Sir Puka Temu, Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations Lekwa Gure, and Minister for Land and Physical Planning John Rosso MPs included National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop, Western Governor Toboi Awi Yoto, Alotau MP Charles Abel and North Fly MP James Donald.
Also included are Secretary for Transport Roy Mumu, and executives from the National Airport Corporation, Civil Aviation Safety.
