Tufi Airport (TFI)

Tufi Airport is a remote airstrip located in the stunning fjord region of Tufi, in the Northern (Oro) Province of Papua New Guinea, originally constructed in the 1960s by the Australian Army to serve this isolated coastal area known for its dramatic landscapes and world-class diving opportunities. This basic but essential facility serves as the primary gateway for visitors to one of Papua New Guinea's premier eco-tourism and diving destinations, where pristine waters and coral reefs attract divers and adventure travelers from around the world. The airport operates with a single unpaved runway designated 06/24, measuring 920 by 30 meters (3,018 feet by 98 feet), oriented along a 059-239 degree axis to accommodate the challenging terrain of this mountainous coastal region. The gravel/dirt runway requires skilled pilots familiar with short-field operations and visual approach procedures, as the airport lacks instrument landing systems and operates exclusively under visual flight rules with no control tower or air traffic control services. Terminal facilities at Tufi Airport are extremely basic, reflecting its role as a remote access point rather than a commercial hub, with minimal passenger amenities consisting of simple shelter structures for weather protection during aircraft boarding and deplaning procedures. The airport does not provide refueling services, requiring careful flight planning for aircraft operations, and ground support equipment is limited to essential safety and operational necessities. Air Niugini provides scheduled passenger services typically operating on Monday and Friday rotations connecting Tufi with Port Moresby via intermediate stops, while Tropic Air offers irregular charter flights for cargo and passenger transport. The airport is conveniently located just a 3-minute walk from the renowned Tufi Resort, making airport transfers seamless for guests arriving to experience the region's spectacular diving sites, where encounters with hammerhead sharks, white tip and black tip reef sharks, and massive schools of tuna and barracuda in the pristine coral waters of Oro Province await diving enthusiasts.