LAElarge airport

Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport

Lae, Papua New Guinea

Explore Lae city guide Navigate to this airport

Routes out

Destinations

ICAO

AYNZ

Elevation

239 ft

The gateway in a glance

The Essence of Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport

LAE

Location

Lae · MPL · Papua New Guinea

Connectivity

11 routes · 9 destinations

Position

-6.568°, 146.727° · 239 ft elev.

Visa & Entry

Official visa, passport and entry information for Papua New Guinea is published by its gov

AI Travel Editor

A closer look

Living guide content for Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport — read or listen in 46+ languages.

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TravelerPulse profile

Papua New Guinea's key gateway serving Lae and the Highlands.

Opened

1943

Location

Lae, Papua New Guinea

Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport, designated by IATA code LAE and ICAO code AYNZ, is the primary airport serving Lae, Papua New Guinea's second-largest city and a major industrial and commercial hub. It is located in the Markham Valley, approximately 40 kilometres west of the Lae city centre, near the town of Nadzab. The airport has historical significance dating to World War II, when it served as a major Allied airbase during the Pacific campaign. In recent decades it has been upgraded to support international and domestic operations, and its name was updated to include 'Tomodachi' in recognition of Japanese friendship and post-war reconciliation efforts. The airport serves as an important regional hub connecting Lae to Port Moresby and other domestic destinations, as well as select international routes. It plays a critical role in supporting Papua New Guinea's resource extraction industries, including mining and agriculture in the Highlands region.

Terminals

The airport has a single passenger terminal handling both domestic and international flights.

Getting to & from

Ground transport between the airport and Lae city centre, approximately 40 kilometres away, is primarily by road via private vehicle, taxi, or bus.

Airlines here

Air Niugini is the primary carrier operating at Nadzab, with PNG Air also providing domestic services.

Notable facts

›Originally constructed as a major Allied military airbase during World War II in 1943.
›Located in the Markham Valley, roughly 40 km west of Lae city centre.
›The 'Tomodachi' addition to its name reflects post-war Japanese-Papua New Guinean friendship.
›Serves as a key logistics hub for Papua New Guinea's mining and agricultural sectors.
›Sits at an elevation of approximately 239 feet (73 metres) above sea level.

Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (9 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Airlines PNG

Air Niugini

Routes

LAE → DAUCG · DH8

LAE → GKACG · DH8

LAE → HGUCG · DH8

LAE → HKNCG · DH8

LAE → MAGCG · DH8

LAE → MASCG · DH8

LAE → PNPCG · DH8

LAE → POMCG · DH8

LAE → RABCG · DH8

LAE → HKNPX · DH4

LAE → POMPX · 100 DH4

Aircraft operating here

DH89 routes De Havilland Canada DHC-8-400 Dash 8Q2 routes Fokker 1001 routes

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Where

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