Fishermans Airfield

The closure was due to economic reasons. The airstrip primarily served a small tourist resort and the local community on the island. As tourism to the original resort dwindled, there was no longer sufficient economic activity to justify the cost of maintaining the airstrip for regular flights. Its disuse was a result of declining traffic and a lack of funding for upkeep, rather than a specific incident, accident, or military conversion.

As of the early 2020s, the airstrip remains clearly visible on satellite imagery but is in a state of disrepair. The unpaved grass and dirt runway is overgrown in places and is not suitable for regular flight operations without significant refurbishment. The site is not used for any other purpose; it remains an undeveloped, disused airfield. There are no permanent structures or facilities remaining from its active period.

Fishermans Airfield, more commonly known as Fisherman's Island Airstrip or Daugo Island Airstrip, was historically significant as a vital link for the island with Port Moresby. Its primary purpose was to support local tourism, providing quick access for visitors to the island's resort and beaches, which are a popular recreational getaway for residents of the capital. It also served the small resident population of Daugo Island. Operations were limited to light aircraft capable of using a short, unpaved runway, such as the Britten-Norman Islander and Cessna models, which are common in Papua New Guinea's aviation landscape. Unlike many other airfields in PNG, it has no known military significance from WWII or other conflicts.

There are significant, albeit delayed, prospects for reopening. The airstrip is a key component of the proposed 'Daugo Island Integrated Tourism Development Project,' a large-scale venture announced around 2018 between the Papua New Guinea government and foreign investors. The plan includes the construction of a new luxury resort, and a critical part of the project is the upgrading and sealing (paving) of the airstrip to accommodate larger turboprop aircraft, such as the Dash-8. This would enable direct tourist flights from Port Moresby and potentially other regional centers. However, the project has faced numerous delays and its progress has been slow. Therefore, the reopening and upgrading of Fishermans Airfield is entirely contingent on the successful implementation of this major tourism development.