Vavaʻu International Airport

Malaʻe Vakapuna Fakavahaʻapuleʻanga Vavaʻu
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorMinistry of Civil Aviation
LocationVavaʻu, Tonga
Elevation AMSL236 ft / 72 m
Coordinates18°35′07″S 173°57′42″W / 18.58528°S 173.96167°W / -18.58528; -173.96167
Map
NFTV is located in Tonga
NFTV
NFTV
Location of airport in Tonga
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
08/26 5,593 1,705 Bitumen
Source: World Aero Data[1]

Vavaʻu International Airport (IATA: VAV, ICAO: NFTV), also known as Lupepauʻu International Airport, is an airport in Vavaʻu, Tonga. The airport is located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the capital Neiafu.

The airport has limited direct service, currently through Fiji Airways.[2] Previously services had been provided by Chathams Pacific (until 2013)[3] and Real Tonga (until 2020). In 2020, Lulutai Airlines began service but paused service in January 2023 due to its damaged aircraft needing repairs.[4]

Less frequent services connect Vava’u to Ha’apai, Niuafoʻou and Niuatoputapu. Flight time is 50 minutes to Tongatapu, 30 minutes to Ha’apai and a little over one hour to both Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’u.[5]

In October 2021 the Tongan Government announced plans for an NZ$172 million upgrade of the airport, including a longer runway, replacement terminal, and renewable energy plant.[6] The expansion would allow direct flights from New Zealand and Australia,[7] and be funded by a public-private partnership.[8]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Fiji Link Nadi[9]
Lulutai Airlines Nuku'alofa[10]

References

  1. ↑ "VAVAU INTL". World Aero Data. Archived from the original on 12 July 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ↑ "Flight Schedules". Fiji Airways. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "Tonga government backs China plane after airline pulls out". RNZ. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  4. ↑ https://www.kanivatonga.co.nz/2023/01/lulutai-airlines-worse-than-real-tonga-say-critics-as-main-aircraft-is-taken-out-of-service/
  5. ↑ "Lupepau'u International Airport -Vava'u". Tonga Airports Ltd. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018.
  6. ↑ "Kiwi tourists could soon fly direct to Tonga's Vava'u Airport following proposed revamp". Stuff. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Dan Lake (20 October 2021). "'An experience like the Maldives': Tonga's Vava'u Airport to be upsized as part of $172m development". NewsHub. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  8. ↑ "Tonga's huge Vava'u project to be foreign funded". RNZ. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "Fiji Airways Resumes Nadi – Vava'u Service From April 2023". Retrieved 2023-03-19.
  10. ↑ https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/493658/tonga-airline-never-grounded-despite-one-plane-experiencing-problems
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