Talasea Airstrip

Talasea, PG 🇵🇬 Closed Airport

ICAO

PG-0095

IATA

-

Elevation

369 ft

Region

PG-WBK

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: -5.31578° N, 150.03775° E

Continent: OC

Type: Closed Airport

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

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Airport Information

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Jul 26, 2025
Closure Date

The exact date of official closure is unknown. The airstrip was a World War II-era field that fell into disuse in the post-war period. It likely became fully defunct and was abandoned by the 1970s or 1980s as regional air services were consolidated at the larger, more modern Hoskins Airport (AYHK).

Reason for Closure

The primary reason for closure was redundancy and economic non-viability. The development and subsequent upgrades of the nearby Hoskins Airport (IATA: HKN, ICAO: AYHK), located approximately 45 km to the east, rendered the small Talasea Airstrip obsolete. Hoskins Airport was established as the primary aviation hub for West New Britain Province, capable of handling larger commercial aircraft (like the Fokker 70/100) and greater passenger volumes, which the old Talasea strip could not support.

Current Status

The site is completely abandoned and non-operational. Satellite imagery of the coordinates reveals the faint, overgrown outline of the former runway, which is now covered in grass, shrubs, and surrounded by the Volupai palm oil plantation. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure such as hangars, terminals, or navigation equipment. The land has been effectively reclaimed for agricultural use and by natural vegetation.

Historical Significance

The airstrip has significant historical importance dating back to World War II. It was originally constructed by Japanese forces during their occupation of New Britain. The airstrip, then known as 'Talasea Airfield' or sometimes 'Volupai Airstrip' (after the adjacent plantation), became a key strategic objective for Allied forces. In March 1944, it was captured by the US 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Talasea. Its capture was crucial for establishing Allied air power on the Talasea peninsula to support further operations. After the war, it served as a vital local transport link for government administrators, Christian missions, and commercial plantations in the area, handling small general aviation and charter aircraft (e.g., Cessnas, Britten-Norman Islanders) before the regional road network was improved and Hoskins Airport became the dominant air hub.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening the old Talasea Airstrip. The aviation needs of the Talasea region and the entire West New Britain Province are comprehensively served by Hoskins Airport (HKN), which receives regular scheduled commercial flights from national carriers like Air Niugini and PNG Air. Given the full operational capacity of Hoskins, there is no economic or logistical justification to restore this small, long-abandoned airstrip.

Nearby Airports

Talasea Airport
TLW • AYVL
Talasea, PG
Small Airport
~6 km away
Linga Linga Airport
LGN • AYLL
Linga Linga, PG
Small Airport
~41 km away
Hoskins Airport
HKN • AYHK
Kimbe, PG
Medium Airport Scheduled Service
~44 km away
Assengseng Airstrip
PG-0019
Assengseng, PG
Small Airport
~83 km away
Asirim Airport
ASZ • ASZ
NonePG
Small Airport
~85 km away
Witu Airport
WIU • AYIX
Garove Island, PG
Small Airport
~96 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.

User Comments Leave a comment

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WWII Airstrip Posted by animebirder on March 26, 2021

Not to be confused with the modern Talasea Airport to the north, this is the site of two crashed WWII planes (a B-25 Mitchell and a Lockheed Ventura) still clearly visible in 2021.