Chimbu Airport (CMU)

Chimbu Airport (AYCH/CMU) in Kundiawa, Papua New Guinea, presents a complex picture regarding its current operational status for passenger flights, making it challenging to summarize recent traveler reviews and experiences. While various flight tracking and booking websites indicate that Chimbu Airport is operational and serves scheduled commercial flights, primarily to Port Moresby via Air Niugini, a direct statement from the Chimbu Governor in January 2023 asserted that the airport was "not in operation at the moment" and was considered "the most dangerous in the country," with plans for its relocation. This creates a significant ambiguity regarding ongoing passenger services in 2023 and 2024.

Due to this conflicting information, specific recent traveler reviews and experiences for Chimbu Airport are not readily available or cannot be reliably summarized. The available information primarily describes general airport facilities rather than direct traveler sentiment or feedback from the last 2-3 years.

While comprehensive traveler sentiment is unavailable, general information about Chimbu Airport suggests the following based on its described facilities:

What Travelers Love: (Based on general airport descriptions, not direct reviews)

• Essential Facilities: The airport is noted for providing essential facilities, including restrooms and a waiting area with comfortable seating.
• Simplicity and Local Hospitality: The airport's charm is described as lying in its simplicity and the warm hospitality of the local community. [cite: 4, previous search]
• Compact Terminal: It features a single, compact, yet functional terminal, designed for easy navigation between check-in, security, and boarding areas. [cite: 4, previous search]
• Parking Facilities: Parking is available and conveniently located near the terminal. [cite: 4, previous search]

Common Complaints: (Based on official statements and historical issues, not direct recent reviews)

• Operational Safety Concerns: The Chimbu Governor stated in January 2023 that the airport was "the most dangerous in the country" and "not in operation at the moment."
• Limited Amenities: While essential facilities exist, the airport reportedly features only a small selection of shops and restaurants, offering limited dining options and souvenirs. [cite: 4, previous search]
• Relocation Plans: There have been long-standing plans, dating back to at least 2012 and reaffirmed in 2023, to relocate the airport due to safety issues and to utilize its current space for commercial development. [cite: 3, 5, 6, previous search]
• Limited Load Capacity: Historically, Air Niugini aircraft could only carry limited loads out of Kundiawa due to the runway design, making the service not commercially viable without provincial government underwriting. [cite: 3, previous search]

In conclusion, while various online platforms continue to list Chimbu Airport (CMU) as having scheduled flights, the explicit statement from the Chimbu Governor in January 2023 regarding its non-operational status and safety concerns casts significant doubt on the availability of recent, relevant traveler experiences for commercial passenger flights. Therefore, a definitive summary of current traveler sentiment and satisfaction, security wait times, and detailed amenity experiences cannot be provided at this time.