Gurney Airport reopens runway 09, boosting flight capacity

The National Airports Corporation has reopened runway section 09 at Gurney Airport, restoring 1,110 meters of asphalted runway for use and allowing larger aircraft to operate.

Closed since the start of the year for resurfacing under the K76 million Civil Aviation Development Investment Program [CADIP] upgrade project, the runway’s western end is now operational, enabling an upgrade from smaller Dash 8 100 and 200 series to the 50-seat Dash 8 300.

Program Director Wellington Warren confirmed yesterday that both Air Niugini and PNG Air successfully landed on the reopened section.

“This upgrade will ease the burden on the travelling public while we focus on completing the eastern end by late September,” Warren said.

The eastern section remains under construction as part of the broader Gurney Airport upgrade works.