Aropa Airport - KIE

Aropa Airport is an airport that serves Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea. It is located in Kieta, Bougainville Island. It sits at an elevation of three meters and coordinates 06°18′18″S 155°43′40″E. The airport operates under the IATA Code KIE and the ICAO code AYIQ. There is one runway on the airport, which measures 1.65 kilometers with an asphalt surface. Aropa Airport also serves a number of towns and villages located on the island of Bougainville include Arawa, Kieta, Panguna, Koire, and more. It is the main island in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville of Papua New Guinea. Airlines that serve Aropa Airport include PNG Air.

Best Time to Visit

The airport was originally an airfield that was occupied and extended by the Imperial Japanese in 1942. As such, it was targeted by the Allied forces and was bombed from 1943 to 1944. After the war, the airfield was transformed into one of the main airports on Bougainville. In the 1990s, it was partly ruined during the Bougainville Civil War and was closed till intentions to reopen it in 2012 were announced. In 2014, the airport was reopened, an event that was attended by the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. As of 2018, the airport is only able to handle airplanes the size of Bombardier Dash 8 or smaller.

What to Do & Area Attractions

There is a small handful of hotels and accommodations located near the area served by Aropa Airport. One of the top destinations is the Rising Sun Lodge. It is just 31 minutes from KIE. Another nearby hotel is the DJ Garden Lodge.

Alternative airport for KIE Airport is the Tonu Airport.