Papua New Guinea (PNG) is planning to upgrade the country's 21 airports using funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
The ADB says the bank's board has approved $480 million in multi-tranche financing.
This will go towards a $640 million programme the PNG government plans to have to upgrade the nation's 21 airports and build up the capacity of the PNG CAA, it says. One of the airports to be upgraded is Port Moresby's major international airport, it adds.
The ADB says: "Safe, affordable and reliable air services are critical in PNG where geographic difficulties limit road travel."
"However, rapidly deteriorating infrastructure caused by accelerated wear and tear due to higher air traffic volumes, use of heavier aircraft and intense weather conditions have left the country's 21 national airports struggling to meet ICAO safety and security standards."
"Rehabilitation and upgrades are urgently needed to improve safety and reliability of flights and to lower costs - factors that will help expand economic opportunities and access to social services," it adds.
The ADB also says some of the money will be used to strengthen the CAA's capabilities. In PNG, there are several air crashes each year. The country's mountainous terrain, unpredictable weather and remote airports mean that PNG is one of the most challenging places in the world to operate aircraft.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
