Mapua(Mabua) Airport (MPU)

Mapua Airport (MPU), also known as Mabua Airport, serves the community of Tatau Island in the Tabar Islands group of the New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. The terminal facility is extremely basic, typically consisting of a small, single-story structure or open-air shelter that handles the administrative and passenger needs for local domestic flights. It serves as a vital transport link for personnel, medical supplies, and local produce in an area where road access to major provincial hubs like Kavieng is non-existent due to the island's isolated position in the Bismarck Sea.

The terminal experience at Mapua is very simple and reflects its role as a practical logistical hub within a remote island setting rather than a commercial passenger facility. Facilities are rudimentary, with manual processes for check-in and baggage handling, and waiting areas that offer only basic protection from the tropical elements. Activity at the airport is generally limited to daylight hours and is highly dependent on local weather conditions, which can frequently affect the unpaved or grass airstrip's operability, particularly during the heavy seasonal rains common in the New Guinea Islands region. The airfield also serves as an important base for regional humanitarian and administrative missions.

Amenities within the MPU terminal are almost non-existent, with no formal shops, restaurants, or modern telecommunications services available on-site. Travelers using this facility are typically local residents, government officials, or aid workers who must arrive fully prepared with their own supplies and pre-arranged local transport to their final destination across the island. The airport's minimal infrastructure and remote coastal setting emphasize the challenging nature of aviation in Papua New Guinea, where every flight represents an essential link for the local community and is critical for maintaining connectivity within the Tabar Islands group.