Milne Bay Province marked a significant milestone on 21 August 2026 with the official opening of the newly upgraded Gurney Airport in Alotau. Delivered by the National Airports Corporation with support from the Government of Papua New Guinea and the Asian Development Bank, the upgrade forms part of the Civil Aviation Development Investment Project phase two (CADIP II), a national programme aimed at bringing PNG’s regional airports up to international aviation standards.
Among the many upgrades to the terminal, JD Elevators PNG was proud to supply and install the new lift servicing the airport’s upper level, home to the VIP lounge. This is the first elevator introduced at Gurney Airport, and it plays an important role in making the modernised terminal accessible to all travellers.
A New Standard of Accessibility for Milne Bay
With the redeveloped terminal now featuring an upper floor, ensuring that every traveller could move through the building safely and independently was an essential part of the design brief. The new lift gives elderly passengers, people living with disabilities, and travellers requiring assistance direct access to the upper level, supporting the airport’s broader goal of full operational and international compliance under CASA PNG.
Installed by Papua New Guinean Technicians
The installation was completed by JD Elevators PNG’s own team of Papua New Guinean lift technicians, who had the lift fully operational and ready ahead of the official opening. This reflects a core part of how JD Elevators PNG operates across the country: a permanently based, locally trained workforce delivering technical work that meets international standards, without relying on fly-in fly-out labour.
Key insight: Major infrastructure projects like Gurney Airport are not only about new buildings and runways. They are also opportunities to build the technical skills and confidence of PNG’s own workforce, ensuring that critical infrastructure can continue to be installed, serviced, and maintained locally for years to come.
A Proud Moment for the Team
During the opening, the JD Elevators PNG team had the opportunity to introduce the Papua New Guinean technicians behind the installation to Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, a moment that reflected the pride felt across the project. The collaboration with China Railway throughout the works was also a positive partnership, and JD Elevators PNG looks forward to further projects together in the future.
Supporting National Development, One Project at a Time
Gurney Airport is the first of five airports to be completed under CADIP II, with the project valued at K76.8 million. For JD Elevators PNG, being part of this national infrastructure milestone reinforces the company’s ongoing commitment to PNG’s development: PNG people, building PNG capability.
JD Elevators PNG is proud to support major infrastructure projects across Papua New Guinea with reliable, locally delivered vertical transportation solutions. To find out more about our project and installation capabilities, contact our team on +675 7099 1090 or info@jdelevatorspng.com.