April River Airport (APR)

April River Airport (APR) is a remote, rural airstrip serving the community of April River in the East Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. The facility is extremely basic, consisting primarily of an unpaved grass or dirt landing strip cut into the surrounding vegetation, suitable only for Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) aircraft. There is no conventional terminal building; passenger processing and waiting areas are informal, often involving standing near the aircraft or utilizing simple, open-air shelters or nearby village structures. The airport functions as a vital lifeline for the local population, facilitating the movement of supplies, medical evacuations, and missionary work, with operations heavily dependent on weather and daylight conditions.

Procedural formalities at April River are minimal and informal, reflecting its status as a bush airstrip. There are no electronic security screening checkpoints, baggage carousels, or check-in counters. Passengers typically meet the pilot directly at the aircraft side to have their luggage weighed and to verify their presence on the flight manifest. Security is managed by the flight crew and local community representatives. As a purely domestic location, there are no immigration or customs facilities; international travelers visiting the region must clear border control at a major gateway like Port Moresby (POM) before transferring to a smaller aircraft for the final leg of their journey.

Amenities at the airstrip are virtually non-existent. Travelers should not expect to find restrooms, food vendors, shops, or Wi-Fi. It is essential for visitors to arrive fully self-sufficient, carrying their own food, water, and necessary supplies. Ground transportation from the airstrip to the village or nearby settlements is typically by foot or, given the location's name and geography, potentially by canoe along the river. Connections are rare and usually involve returning to a regional hub; if a flight is delayed or cancelled due to weather, passengers may need to seek accommodation within the local village, as there are no airport hotels.