Central to the project was the construction of two new airport terminal buildings, establishing separate domestic and international terminals that continue to serve the airport today. The works represented a significant investment in national infrastructure, improving passenger capacity, operational efficiency and aviation safety.
The expansion responded to increasing demand for air travel and the need to bring airport facilities into line with international standards. In addition to the new terminal buildings, the project included substantial upgrades to supporting infrastructure across the airfield, ensuring the airport could safely manage higher aircraft movements and larger passenger volumes while providing a clearer separation between domestic and international operations.
McKay was engaged to deliver electrical works across the project and maintained a dedicated team based in Papua New Guinea for the full three-year duration of the works. This long-term on-site presence enabled close coordination with other contractors and airport stakeholders, as well as continuity of knowledge across the staged delivery of the project.
McKay’s scope of work covered electrical installations for both new terminal buildings, supporting passenger processing, building services and operational systems. In parallel, the project included high-voltage reticulation works to supply the expanded airport infrastructure, along with the installation of apron and taxiway lighting essential for safe aircraft ground movements and night operations. These works required careful integration with existing systems to maintain airport operations throughout construction.
Delivering the project in a tropical environment presented logistical and operational challenges, including material supply, climatic conditions and the need for robust, reliable systems suited to continuous use. McKay’s sustained on-island presence and experience in complex airport environments were key to managing these challenges and ensuring consistent progress across the programme.
The Port Moresby Airport project stands as a major milestone in McKay’s international aviation portfolio. It demonstrated the company’s ability to deliver large-scale airport infrastructure projects overseas, to resource long-term operations in challenging environments, and to contribute to infrastructure that continues to support national and international connectivity for Papua New Guinea.
