Kurwina Airport

The airport ceased operations as a direct result of the Bougainville Civil War (1988-1998). The conflict caused a complete breakdown of civil administration and law and order across the island. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force imposed a military blockade, and the general state of insecurity made all air travel to remote, unsecured airstrips like Kurwina impossible. The closure was not due to a specific economic decision or accident, but rather the collapse of infrastructure and safety during the war.

The airport is completely abandoned and defunct. Satellite imagery of the coordinates confirms that the former runway and surrounding facilities have been entirely reclaimed by the jungle. The airstrip is no longer visible or usable, and there is no remaining aviation infrastructure on the site. The land is now indistinguishable from the surrounding dense vegetation and may be used informally for local subsistence agriculture.

Kurwina Airport was a small but crucial rural airstrip that served as a lifeline for the remote inland communities in its vicinity. In a region with rugged terrain and limited road infrastructure, the airport was essential for connectivity. It was primarily used by third-level airlines (such as Talair) and missionary aviation groups (like Mission Aviation Fellowship) operating small STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, for example, the Britten-Norman Islander and Cessna models. These operations transported passengers, delivered mail, provided critical medical evacuation services, and carried essential supplies and trade goods, underpinning the local economy and social well-being.

There are no known official plans or prospects for the reopening of Kurwina Airport. Following the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the Autonomous Bougainville Government has focused its limited resources on rehabilitating major infrastructure, such as the reopening of Aropa (Kieta) Airport in 2014. While there is a broader ambition to restore rural air services, the significant cost required to clear the land, reconstruct the runway, and certify a small, remote airstrip like Kurwina makes its revival highly improbable in the near to medium term. Priority is given to more strategically located or more easily rehabilitated airfields.