Regular flights to Wapenamanda airport resumes today

REGULAR flights to Enga’s Wapenamanda airport will resume today, according to the National Airports Corporation (NAC).
NAC managing director and chief executive officer Rex Kiponge confirmed this yesterday after the cancellation of a Notam (notice to airmen) to airline operators.
The Wapenamanda airport was closed on July 8 following the spilling of oil and broken bottles on the airport runway. “The decision to reopen Wapenamanda airport (follows) my meeting with the new Civil Aviation Minister Walter Schnaubelt on Friday,” he said.
“The main reason to have the airport closed was in the interest of safety and security of the travelling public and our stakeholders. The police commissioner is also aware of the decision to reopen the airport.
“Based on the NAC’s internal corrective and preventive actions taken to address the oil spillage incident on the runway pavement, we are now cancelling the Notam on Wapenamanda airport.”
He apologised to the people for the airport closure.
“You have been unnecessarily denied this vital service by the hooligans illegally trespassing the airside and spilling oil and breaking bottles on the runway pavement,” he said. “Police investigations are currently on-going and the perpetrators will be brought to justice to face the full brunt of the law.
“I sternly warn that any future acts of sabotage to the airport and its associated facilities will have severe repercussions. It is a criminal offence to interfere with airports and air navigational facilities under the Civil Aviation Act.”