First flight in six year for Mendi Airport

The sound of aircraft engine, brought tears to many residents of the Southern Highlands provincial capital, today.

After nearly six years, PNG Air ATR 72 - 600 Series aircraft entered Mendi Valley for a test landing, clearing the ground for a commercial flight to coincide with the Mendi Airport opening on Thursday.

“Southern Highlanders in Mendi Town rejoiced and some shed tears as the PNG Air aircraft landed on the runway," said Mendi-Munhiu MP Raphael Tonpi, after witnessing the landing.

Weeks after cancellation of the airport opening following safety requirement concern, National Airports Corporation had been working closely with Civil Aviation Safety Authority [CASA] to ensure all safety boxes were ticked.

In June 2018, all commercial flights into Mendi came to a sudden end, following burning down of airport facilities and an Air Niugni Dash 8 aircraft on the tarmac, all related to feud from the 2017 national elections.

Since then, the 120km journey by road on the Highlands Highway to Western Highlands was the only option to travel by air.

“For the first time in almost a decade, air transport service has returned to Mendi and Southern Highlands. The once lost and forgotten roars of an aeroplane is heard once again in the valley,” the local MP said.

“The people of Southern Highlands have now truly learnt the hard way from their mistakes that one must never take government services for granted.”