A Papua New Guinean delegation, including officers from the National Airports Corporation (NAC), has completed a nine-day study visit to Indonesia to strengthen understanding of regional airport management, sustainable financing, and operational sustainability.
The study visit was conducted from 20 to 28 October 2026 under the Indonesia-PNG Twinning Arrangement and formed part of the PNG Civil Aviation Development Investment Project III (CADIP III), supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Indonesia was selected as a learning partner due to the similar geographical and operational challenges faced by both countries, where regional aviation networks play a crucial role in connecting remote communities to services and economic opportunities. During the program, delegates gained first-hand insight into Indonesia’s airport management framework, particularly the approaches used to sustain regional airports serving remote populations where passenger traffic and commercial revenues alone are insufficient to support operations. Key areas of engagement included airport network management, sustainable financing models for regional airports, air service connectivity, commercial partnerships that support local economic development, and private-sector participation in airport infrastructure development. They held high-level discussions with Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Angkasa Pura Indonesia in Jakarta. The program also included site visits to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Waingapu Pioneer Airport, and Yogyakarta International Airport, where delegates met with airport management teams and inspected terminal facilities, airside infrastructure, and operational systems. The five-member Papua New Guinean delegation comprised two officers from NAC’s Regional Airports Division, two representatives from the Department of Transport, one representative from the Rural Airstrip Agency (RAA) and one representative from the ADB PNG Resident Mission who participated in the program. The Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) who are currently engaged by ADB as the Technical Assistance Consultant for CADIP3, facilitated the trip and had their representatives from Australia and Indonesia accompany the PNG delegates on this visit. NAC, the Department of Transport, and sector partners will now review the findings and assess practical approaches that can be adapted to Papua New Guinea’s operating environment. The outcomes are expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, improve airport sustainability, and enhance regional air transport services across the country