Kikinonda Airport

The primary reason for the closure was the deterioration of the airstrip due to a lack of consistent funding and resources for maintenance. The runway surface, likely unpaved grass or gravel, became unsafe for aircraft operations due to erosion, overgrowth of vegetation, and surface irregularities. This is a common issue for many remote 'bush' airstrips in PNG, which require constant upkeep to remain operational against the rapid growth of tropical vegetation.

As of the latest satellite imagery, the airport is completely abandoned and non-functional. The former runway is entirely overgrown with tall grass, shrubs, and encroaching jungle, making its outline still visible from the air but rendering it unusable for any form of aviation. There is no remaining airport infrastructure, and the land appears to be used informally for local foot traffic or small-scale subsistence gardening on its fringes.

Kikinonda Airport was a vital 'outstation' or 'bush' airstrip, serving as a critical lifeline for the remote community of Kikinonda and surrounding villages in Oro (Northern) Province. Its significance was not military but humanitarian and logistical. When active, it handled operations for:
- **Medical Evacuations (Medevac):** Providing the only rapid means of transporting critically ill or injured patients to hospitals in larger towns like Popondetta.
- **Supply Chain:** Facilitating the transport of essential goods such as medicine, food, fuel, mail, and building materials to an otherwise isolated area.
- **Connectivity:** Connecting the local population with the outside world for access to government services, education, banking, and missionary or NGO activities.
- **Aircraft:** Operations were limited to STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft capable of handling short, unpaved runways, such as the Britten-Norman Islander, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, and various Cessna models operated by third-level airlines and mission aviation groups.

There are currently no known or publicly announced plans to rehabilitate and reopen Kikinonda Airport. While the Papua New Guinea government and associated bodies like the Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) have programs aimed at restoring vital rural airstrips across the country, Kikinonda has not been publicly listed as a priority project. Any prospect of reopening would depend on future government funding, a demonstrated need from the local community, and a commitment to long-term maintenance.