Manetai Airport

The airport's closure was a direct consequence of the Bougainville Civil War (1988-1998). The conflict caused a complete collapse of government services, security, and the economy in the region. The shutdown of the nearby Panguna Copper Mine in 1989, a key catalyst for the war, eliminated the primary economic driver for much of the island's infrastructure. Like many other secondary facilities, the airfield was abandoned as the conflict escalated and became unsafe and economically unviable to operate.

The airport is completely abandoned and defunct. High-resolution satellite imagery of the location shows a faint outline of the former runway, which is now entirely overgrown with dense vegetation, including shrubs and trees. The land has been reclaimed by nature and is partially used for small-scale local agriculture. There is no remaining aviation infrastructure, such as buildings or navigation aids, visible on the site.

Manetai Airport was a small, unpaved feeder airstrip that played a role in the local transportation network of central Bougainville before the civil war. It primarily served light aircraft and was used for general aviation, connecting remote communities, supporting local agricultural plantations (such as cocoa and copra), and facilitating missionary work. It acted as an important link in a region with challenging terrestrial geography, complementing the larger, primary airports at Aropa (Kieta) and Buka.

There are no known plans or prospects for reopening Manetai Airport. The Autonomous Bougainville Government's focus is on the maintenance and strategic development of the island's two major airports: Buka Airport (AYBK) and Aropa Airport (AYKT). Given the significant investment required and the limited strategic need, the restoration of a small, remote airfield like Manetai is not a current priority.