Photo Credit: Helifix Papua New Guinea
The Fly River Provincial Government and National Airports Corporation have inked an agreement to upgrade the Kuinga and Daru airports in Western Province.
The MOU, according to Western Province Governor Taboi Awi Yoto, is the province's first of its sort.
“Western Province has three big airports –– Daru, Kiunga and Balimo –– which the provincial government has been supporting without any assistance from NAC in the last 45 years, and with this MOU, I hope to see a major improvement to the airports and airstrips in my province,” Yoto said.
At the Daru, Kiunga, and Balimo aerodromes, the MOU will offer a legal framework for both parties to engage on airfield development, business prospects, and technical support, among other major goals.
The MOU was signed at the NAC head office in Port Moresby by provincial administrator Robert Kaiyu and NAC acting managing director Rex Kiponge.
Kiponge said, “The MOU comes under NAC’s strategic business plan 2020-2030 to forge and maintain strategic partnerships with key stakeholders such as the provincial governments.”
Since 2009, he added, NAC has relied on its aviation business to fuel operations at its 22 airports.
“The surplus income NAC generates from our major airports is used to support other smaller airports unable to sustain themselves financially,” Kiponge said.
NAC's current strategic business goal, he added, is to focus on smaller airports and other key difficulties by expanding into the non-aeronautical sector.
According to the MOU, the NAC plans to establish a representative to engage closely with the Fly River Provincial administration on aviation programs and related enterprises at the Kiunga and Daru airports.
Reference:
Post-Courier (15 June 2021). “Upgrade of Daru, Kiunga Airports Set”.
