Girua Airport (PNP)

Girua Airport (PNP) is the primary aviation hub for Popondetta and the Oro (Northern) Province of Papua New Guinea, located approximately 9 miles (15 km) from the city center. The airport operates from a modern, integrated passenger terminal inaugurated in March 2018, designed for high efficiency and improved passenger comfort. It acts as a critical infrastructure link, serving as the main gateway for trekkers heading to the world-famous Kokoda Track and tourists exploring the scenic Tufi Fjords via daily scheduled services by Air Niugini and PNG Air. The terminal infrastructure provides essential amenities across its single-level layout, featuring a modernized waiting hall and functional check-in counters. Travelers should note that on-site commercial services are very limited, with typically no full-service restaurants or retail shops available within the building. Passengers are strongly encouraged to bring their own snacks and water, although the facility does provide modernized restroom areas and a secure environment for passengers transitioning between Port Moresby and the provincial interior. Ground transportation to central Popondetta is primarily supported by authorized hotel shuttles and local taxi services, with the journey typically taking 20 to 30 minutes. A unique feature of the facility is its rich World War II heritage, as it is built on the site of the historic Dobodura Airfield Complex; a B-25 Mitchell bomber wreck remains on display near the airport gate as a memorial. Arriving passengers are treated to striking views of the surrounding palm oil plantations and the active Mount Lamington volcano situated to the south, providing one of the most scenic arrivals in the region.