The governor of the Papua New Guinea province of Morobe has called for increased security between the city of Lae and the Nadzab airport.
Luther Wenge says passengers and airport staff travelling between the the city and airport are regularly robbed and attacked.
Mr Wenge says the criminal action is occuring because there is no sense of security in and around the airport and there isn't enough police presence.
He says he has urged the Police and Civil Authority department to increase manpower and improve logistics.
Mr Wenge says if nothing is done flights into Morobe would be severely disrupted because domestic pilots do not feel safe.
"Most of them are threatening to pull out from Lae which will have serious ramifications. We don't want that to happen and that's why we have asked the police to take action and also the Civil Authority."
Mr Wenge says his provincial council will ask the National Parlianment to reopen the Lae Airport so people wouldn't have to make the 40 minute trip to Nadzab.
