List of Airports in Papua New Guinea

Airport Code:

POM

Time Zone:

Papua New Guinea Time (PGT) – UTC +10

Address:

Jacksons International Airport, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Nearby Cities:

• Port Moresby – 4 miles
• Konedobu – 5 miles
• Goroka – 200 miles
• Lae – 260 miles
• Mount Hagen – 215 miles

Major Airlines Served:

• Air Niugini
• Qantas
• Virgin Australia
• PNG Air
• Air New Zealand

Annual Passenger Traffic:

Approximately 1.2 million passengers (2023)

Airport Location and History

Jacksons International Airport (POM), located in the capital city Port Moresby, is the busiest airport in Papua New Guinea and serves as the primary international gateway for both domestic and international flights. The airport is named after Jacksons, a pioneer aviator in the region.

The airport was initially a military base during World War II, and its first civilian terminal was opened in the 1960s. Jacksons International has undergone numerous expansions to accommodate the growing demand for air travel, especially with the rise of tourism and economic development in the Pacific region.

Over the decades, Jacksons International has become a hub for connecting Papua New Guinea to Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia, with frequent flights to major cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Singapore. The airport has been instrumental in facilitating the movement of both people and goods across the country, given the challenging terrain and limited road infrastructure in many parts of the island nation.

The airport’s international terminal was upgraded in 2013, and the airport continues to play a central role in the Pacific’s aviation network, ensuring connectivity to remote regions of the country.

Facilities and Infrastructure

Jacksons International Airport has two runways:

• Runway 1: Length 9,843 feet (3,000 meters)
• Runway 2: Length 8,530 feet (2,600 meters)

The longer runway is capable of handling large aircraft, such as Boeing 747s and Airbus A330s, allowing the airport to cater to both regional and long-haul international flights. The second runway is generally used for smaller aircraft.

The terminal is modern, with a range of facilities for passengers, including duty-free shops, restaurants, lounges, and currency exchange services. The airport also provides ground transportation options like taxis, buses, and shuttle services to Port Moresby and surrounding areas. While Jacksons International is well-equipped for a major regional hub, further upgrades are planned to improve capacity and enhance passenger experience.

The airport is vital for the transport and trade infrastructure in Papua New Guinea, serving not only tourism but also business, government, and emergency air services in one of the most geographically diverse nations in the world.

2. Lae Nadzab Airport (LAE)