Kavieng Airport guide

Kavieng Airport is the main air gateway to New Ireland Province in Papua New Guinea. It sits on the northern tip of New Ireland, about 1 km from the centre of Kavieng town, at 4.6 m above sea level.

The airfield began as a single runway built by Australian forces. Japanese forces took it on 23 January 1942, enlarged it and used it until 1944, while American aircraft bombed it through 1943 and 1944. It returned to civilian use after the war.

A single asphalt runway, 12/30, serves the airport. The National Airports Corporation rebuilt and extended the runway and added a new terminal, with support from the Asian Development Bank's Civil Aviation Development Investment Program. Works started in July 2020 and the new airport was opened by the PNG Prime Minister in November 2022. Air Niugini flies the main route to Port Moresby with Fokker 70 and 100 jets, and has flown Boeing 737s at peak times. It also links Kavieng with Rabaul and Manus Island. As of April 2024 no international flights operated here.