Port Moresby Airport

Customer Reviews

No Skytrax Rating
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Queuing Times 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Staff 12345
Customer rating from 9 reviews
5/10
No Skytrax Rating
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8/10

"it's always a breeze"

(Papua New Guinea)

Not Verified | The more I travel the more I appreciate Port Moresby's Jacksons International Airport. Whilst the speed at check-in is dependent on the systems (sometimes it takes longer but usually it's quite fast), it's always a breeze moving through this terminal from check-in to security to immigration and into the departure lounge. The lounge itself has great seating, with good food options and drink options as well as shopping. POM isn't Changi, but then again Changi is matchless.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitJune 2019
Type Of TravellerFamily Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
3/10

"3-hour connection a mad rush"

(Papua New Guinea)

Having previously written a review that was positive about the Port Moresby experience arriving from Australia, I have now flown in several times from Asia and I have say it is very different. The flights generally arrive early morning and some days you will have flights from Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong arriving at the same time. This means very long queues at immigration - if you have a domestic connection, tell the staff and they'll put in a shorter queue. However, then you get your bags and join the customs queue. The reason the Australian flights are easier is that the passengers rarely get searched, whereas these Asian flights are targeted for customs checks. So when I got to the front of the queue, I was waved straight through despite declaring food, but it took me half an hour to get to the front of the queue - there were 5 search counters open but only one person checking everyone's declaration card. So if you're flying in from Asia, be very careful about connections - for me, a 3-hour connection turned into a mad rush to the domestic terminal.
Experience At AirportArrival Only
Date VisitMay 2016
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages N/A
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
no
2/10

"domestic arrival was good"

(Papua New Guinea)

Domestic arrival was good, canteen facilities are reasonably priced. Toilet was clean in arrival hall. International departure - 2 money exchange facilities available. The security check was not particularly friendly - boarding was smooth via gate 3 with Virgin Australia using an air bridge.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitJanuary 2016
Type Of TravellerSolo Leisure
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
7/10

"domestic terminal is a madhouse"

(Papua New Guinea)

After a few trips through the airport, this is what I think: International arrivals: Remarkably smooth when there’s only one plane arriving (the 767 from Brisbane). Efficient and well-marked immigration queues – I spent just 10 minutes in the “already have visa” queue but if you’re rushing for a domestic connection, try using the “visa on arrival” queue on the right, which was very short (if you need a visa on arrival, go to the separate booth to buy it first). Baggage collection and customs was fast with very few bags checked. There is an ATM by the baggage carousel and an ATM and money changer in the main hall along with a decent café. If you’re connecting to Air Niugini domestic, you can use a transfer check-in desk in the international terminal, then walk over to the domestic terminal. International departures: Also smooth with fairly fast check-in and immigration lines. Airside has 2 cafes (better than the one in the main hall), a bar and duty free shops. Basically just like a decent small western airport except that the bathroom was dirty and had no soap. Paid wifi only. Domestic terminal: Things get a lot worse here. Compared to international, the domestic terminal is a madhouse, especially at peak times like xmas. You have to pass security on entry, and maybe show your ticket, then you might have to deal with a huge pack of people (some of them very stinky) at check-in. Make sure that you’re in the right queue, as the lines aren’t always straight and people are often diverted to other counters. Check often with the staff and other passengers (middle-class PNG citizens generally speak English well and can be very helpful). Make sure to check-in early – at least 2 hours during busy periods – due to the queues and to the fact that locals check-in huge amounts of luggage, which leads to late arrivals being bumped from flights due to the planes reaching their weight limit (frequent weather delays and cancellations can also mean that late arrivals are bumped in favour of passengers from a cancelled flight). Then you have to go past a single person checking every Air Niugini boarding pass for all flights and then more security – once I got through here very quickly but the other times there were long queues. The departure area is OK when it’s not crowded and has a couple of basic food shops. Pay attention to boarding announcements and check with staff at the gates because it’s not always clear which gate you’re supposed to board through. Then you have to walk out to the planes – most of the way is covered but you will get a bit wet if it’s raining. Ratings below are for the international terminal, where you shouldn't have any problems. I rate the domestic terminal a 3 and advise you to plan ahead.
Experience At AirportArrival and Departure
Date VisitDecember 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
8/10

"pleasant airport to transit"

(Papua New Guinea)

Very little queueing times in both the domestic and international terminals. Jacksons International has just undergone some big renovation work and is looking excellent, with great shopping and cafés. Jacksons Domestic still needs a bit of work especially in the departures hall but I understand plan are afoot. A pleasant airport to transit.
Experience At AirportDeparture Only
Date VisitSeptember 2015
Type Of TravellerBusiness
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Terminal Seating 12345
Terminal Signs 12345
Food Beverages 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
Wifi Connectivity 12345
Airport Staff 12345
yes
6/10

Port Moresby Airport customer review

(New Zealand)

I find that boarding and getting out of the plane is quite fast. However if you're travelling Virgin Australia their planes do not connect to the gate so you'll have to come out and walk to the terminal. As off 25th September 2013 - all tourist visas are now free. Passport queues always take a long time and it gets stuffy. I arrived on 26th to find out that I now have an extra K100 in my pocket. There is a BSP Bank branch by the carousel but also inside the general terminal area. I carry around my digicel simcard with me so I buy phone credit as soon as I walk out with my bags. You don't have to go and wait outside as there are people around. I feel safer waiting inside and looking out the window for my pick up to arrive.
Queuing Times 12345
Terminal Cleanliness 12345
Airport Shopping 12345
yes
3/10

Port Moresby Airport customer review

Arriving late at night from Brisbane on a delayed flight we were quickly off the plane and through customs without a long delay for baggage - but remember PGK100 for a visitors visa! Security is fairly tight due to the general problems of PNG and only passengers with tickets are allowed into the terminals. The domestic terminal is somewhat more crowded and more confusing with limited facilities but is relatively clean. Returning from outside POM you may well find that there is no international baggage transfer - you need to walk the three hundred or so metres between the terminals with your baggage - but it is a covered walkway with lots of security staff everywhere. After check-in there is then a wait (with few available chairs) until customs is opened about an hour before the flight. Once through things go fairly smoothly though there is not much airside apart from the small Air Niugini lounge which is pleasant enough. For the size of Port Moresby a reasonable enough experience though more seating would be good.
no
3/10

Port Moresby Airport customer review

The arrivals hall at the international terminal is clean and tidy but does not cope well with any more than 2 large aircraft arriving at the same time. It can take over an hour to clear customs and there is only one baggage conveyor. The only ATM is after passport control and you will need PGK500 if you wish to purchase a visa - so it pays to have your currency ready before you depart for POM. The departure lounge is also very clean and tidy and customs and immigration are efficient. However if you wish to do shopping there is only one very small duty free shop and an even smaller cafe after customs and security.
no
3/10

Port Moresby Airport customer review

Things have improved a little - arrival is chaotic if a large plane (eg 767 from BNE) it took an hour from arrival to leaving. The money exchange was open you still pay for your visa. Check-in was very efficient . There is still one shop pre customs and some food available afterwards. You do not have to get wet anymore when boarding. Domestic more challenging when checking in. You do walk to the planes although some covered walk ways. Was quick delivering checked bags from internal flight.
no