Margarima Airport

The closure was not due to a single event but a gradual decline from a combination of factors common to remote PNG airstrips. The primary reasons were a lack of consistent government funding for maintenance, which led to the severe deterioration of the runway surface, and persistent, high-risk security issues related to tribal conflicts in the Hela Province. These factors made regular flight operations both unsafe and economically unviable.

The airport is officially closed and non-operational. Satellite imagery confirms the runway outline is still clearly visible but is unpaved (grass/dirt) and not maintained to aviation standards. The site is not obstructed by any major permanent structures, but the surface is overgrown and unsuitable for aircraft. The land is likely used by the local community for informal gatherings or as open space.

Margarima Airport was a vital transport link for the remote Margarima district in Hela Province (formerly part of Southern Highlands Province). Like many rural airstrips in Papua New Guinea, it was a lifeline connecting isolated communities. It primarily handled STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) aircraft, such as the Britten-Norman Islander, Cessna 206, and DHC-6 Twin Otter, operated by third-level airlines and missionary groups like Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Its operations were critical for:
- Delivering essential supplies, mail, and payroll for government workers.
- Facilitating patrols by 'kiaps' (patrol officers) during the Australian administration and early independence eras.
- Providing life-saving medical evacuations for a population with no other quick access to hospitals.
- Supporting the work of missions and local commerce, effectively serving as the primary gateway to the outside world for decades.

There are official plans and a stated desire to reopen the airport. In 2019, the Hela Provincial Government announced it had allocated K1 million to upgrade and reopen the Margarima airstrip. The stated goal of this initiative is to improve the delivery of government services, bolster law and order, and provide reliable access for medical emergencies in a region frequently destabilized by tribal violence. The Papua New Guinea Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA), responsible for rehabilitating rural airfields, has also identified Margarima as a closed airstrip requiring major restoration. However, the completion of this project is contingent on the release of funds, contractor engagement, and a stable security situation in the area.