Photo Credit: Post Courier
The National Airports Corporation has granted the go-ahead for flights into Madang Airport to resume.
Flights have resumed following NAC's extensive runway rehabilitation work, the airport's anticipated closure from July 23 to August 8, and a further delay of flights on August 13 due to weather.
Regular passenger transport (RPT) flights into Madang Airport have started, according to NAC interim managing director Rex Kiponge, following CASA's inspection and clearance to open the completed 930 meters of the runway over the weekend.
He explained that the airport was downgraded after work on Stage 6 Method of Works Plan (MOWP) began on July 23, 2021, and that after completion of Stage 6 Method of Works Plan (MOWP), a total of 930 meters of runway will be available for RPT flights.
“Works on stage 7 of the runway has also commenced and is expected to take approximately four weeks to complete which is again subject to weather conditions on-site.
“The upgrade works on the runway are very important and critical to ensuring all airports operate in a safe environment and in compliance with appropriate international standards and the Civil Aviation Rules,” Kiponge said.
Meanwhile, owing to the present runway length available, PNG Air has resumed flights into Madang Airport, albeit only with their Dash 8-100 series aircraft.
“We will resume our ATR 72-600 flight operations following completion of the full runway length pending approval from NAC,” the company said.
It claimed that with up to four weekly flights to Madang, passengers and air cargo partners may now book flights and goods into the province with ease as flights restart.
The airport's runway is planned to be upgraded in its entirety by October 31st, 2021.
Reference: Post-Courier (25 August 2021). “NAC Gives Okay For Madang Airport Flights”.
