Wagau Airport

The closure was due to a lack of maintenance and economic viability. The high cost and logistical difficulty of maintaining a remote, unpaved runway without consistent funding led to the deterioration of the airstrip's surface. Eventually, it became unsafe for aircraft operations, forcing its closure. This is a common reason for the closure of hundreds of rural 'bush' strips across Papua New Guinea.

Based on recent satellite imagery, the physical clearing for the runway is still visible and has not been significantly encroached upon by construction or dense jungle. However, it is no longer maintained for aviation. The grass surface is in a state of disrepair, making it unsuitable for aircraft. The site is now used by the local community as a public open space, a footpath, and possibly for small-scale gardening or animal grazing.

When active, Wagau Airport was a critical lifeline for the isolated community of Wagau and the surrounding mountainous region of Morobe Province. It was primarily serviced by missionary aviation groups (like Missionary Aviation Fellowship - MAF) and other third-level air charter services. Its operations were essential for:
- **Medical Evacuations:** Providing emergency transport for the critically ill or injured.
- **Supply Chain:** Flying in essential goods such as medicine, food, tools, and educational materials.
- **Connectivity:** Transporting people, including pastors, teachers, and government officers, to and from the remote area.
- **Economic Activity:** Enabling the transport of local cash crops, such as coffee, to market.
The airport exclusively handled STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-6 Porter, Britten-Norman Islander, and Cessna 206/208, which are designed for rugged, short, and often sloped runways.

There are currently no known official plans or funded projects to reopen Wagau Airport. While the Papua New Guinea government and its Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) have an ongoing mission to survey, restore, and reopen vital rural airstrips to improve services, Wagau (PG-0152) is not on any publicly available priority list. The reopening of the airstrip would require a significant community-led effort to secure funding from provincial or national government sources, followed by extensive restoration work to meet the safety standards of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASA PNG).