Lakunai Airfield

The airport was destroyed and rendered permanently inoperable by a major volcanic eruption. On September 19, 1994, the nearby volcanoes of Tavurvur and Vulcan, which form the Rabaul caldera, erupted simultaneously. Lakunai Airfield was located at the eastern foot of the Tavurvur volcano, placing it directly in the path of the eruption's fallout. The airfield was buried under several meters of heavy, abrasive volcanic ash and tephra, which collapsed buildings, destroyed the runway surface, and made the entire site unusable for any aviation activity.

The site of the former Lakunai Airfield is abandoned and remains buried under volcanic ash. It is an eerie, barren landscape at the base of the still-active Tavurvur volcano. While some outlines of the former runway may be faintly visible depending on erosion and vegetation growth, the infrastructure is completely destroyed and the land is unusable as an airfield. The area is considered a hazardous zone. All air traffic for the region is now handled by the new Tokua Airport (IATA: RAB, ICAO: AYTK), which was constructed in a safer location approximately 20 km to the southeast after the 1994 eruption.

Lakunai Airfield had significant historical importance, both militarily and as a civilian hub.

**World War II:** Originally constructed by Australian forces, the airfield was captured by the Japanese in January 1942. It was renamed Rabaul Airfield and became a cornerstone of the massive Japanese military complex at Rabaul, which was their primary naval and air base in the South Pacific. It was heavily used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service and Army Air Force for launching attacks across New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Consequently, it was a primary target for Allied air raids throughout 1943 and 1944, which eventually neutralized it as an effective base.

**Civilian Operations:** After the war, the airfield was repaired and became the main airport for Rabaul and the East New Britain Province. It was a vital link for the region's economy, supporting business, tourism, and the transport of goods. Major Papua New Guinean airlines, such as Air Niugini and Talair, operated regular domestic flights, connecting Rabaul to Port Moresby and other key destinations. Before its destruction, its IATA code was RAB.

There are zero plans or prospects for reopening Lakunai Airfield. The location is considered unacceptably dangerous due to its immediate proximity to the active Tavurvur volcano. The catastrophic destruction in 1994 demonstrated the extreme risk. The existence of the modern and fully operational Tokua Airport as its permanent replacement ensures that there is no need or intention to ever rebuild or reactivate the old Lakunai site.