Kelanoa Airport

Not applicable, as the airport is not permanently closed. Its operational status is limited due to economic and logistical factors. The population and economic activity in the Kelanoa/Kasanombe area are insufficient to support regular scheduled airline services. Therefore, its operations are restricted to charter, medical evacuation (medevac), government, and mission flights that operate on an as-needed, Prior Permission Required (PPR) basis.

The site is an operational, non-towered airstrip featuring a single grass/dirt runway (designated 04/22) approximately 914 meters (3,000 feet) in length. Recent satellite imagery shows the runway is maintained and clear of major obstructions, located adjacent to Kasanombe village along the coast. The airport is used for infrequent, non-scheduled charter flights operated by PNG's small aviation companies (e.g., Tropicair, North Coast Aviation) and mission groups (MAF) for community support, medical transport, and the delivery of essential goods. All flight operations require prior permission and coordination with the Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA).

Kasanombe Airport (AYKA) has historically been a critical lifeline for the remote coastal communities of the Sialum region in Morobe Province. For decades, it provided the primary connection to the outside world for access to higher levels of healthcare, education, and commerce in provincial centers like Lae. Operations were historically handled by third-level airlines and missionary aviation organizations, most notably the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). These flights were essential for transporting medical personnel, teachers, church workers, delivering vital supplies like medicine and food, and performing emergency medical evacuations. While the broader Finschhafen Peninsula was a major World War II battleground, Kasanombe airstrip itself is a post-war civil and mission field, significant for its role in community development and support rather than military history.

The prospect is for continued service rather than reopening. The future of Kasanombe Airport is tied to the ongoing support and funding from the PNG Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA), which is tasked with maintaining the viability of such essential remote airfields. An increase in service or upgrades would depend entirely on future economic development in the region (such as new resource projects or tourism initiatives) or a specific government directive. There are no known public plans to upgrade the airstrip to accommodate regular scheduled commercial passenger flights. Its role is expected to continue as a vital charter and essential-services airfield for the foreseeable future.