Vavaʻu International Airport Explained

Vavaʻu International Airport
Nativename:Tonga (Tonga Islands);: Malaʻe Vakapuna Fakavahaʻapuleʻanga Vavaʻu
Iata:VAV
Icao:NFTV
Type:Public
Operator:Ministry of Civil Aviation
Location:Vavaʻu, Tonga
Elevation-F:236
Elevation-M:72
Coordinates:-18.5853°N -173.9617°W
Pushpin Map:Tonga
Pushpin Mapsize:150
Pushpin Map Caption:Location of airport in Tonga
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:NFTV
Pushpin Label Position:left
R1-Number:08/26
R1-Length-F:5593
R1-Length-M:1705
R1-Surface:Bitumen
Footnotes:Source: World Aero Data[1]

Vavaʻu International Airport, also known as Lupepauʻu International Airport, is an airport in Vavaʻu, Tonga. The airport is located 10km (10miles) 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: VAVAU INTL . World Aero Data . usurped . https://web.archive.org/web/20170712075147/http://worldaerodata.com/wad.cgi?id=TN79775 . 12 July 2017.
  2. Web site: Flight Schedules . Fiji Airways . 26 June 2022 .
  3. Web site: Tonga government backs China plane after airline pulls out . RNZ . 21 January 2013 . 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. Web site: Lupepau’u International Airport -Vava’u . Tonga Airports Ltd . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180524052115/http://www.tongaairports.com/airports/lupepauu-airport-vavau/ . 24 May 2018 .
  6. Web site: Kiwi tourists could soon fly direct to Tonga's Vava'u Airport following proposed revamp . Stuff . 20 October 2021 . 26 June 2022.
  7. Web site: 'An experience like the Maldives': Tonga's Vava'u Airport to be upsized as part of $172m development . Dan Lake . NewsHub . 20 October 2021 . 26 June 2022.
  8. Web site: Tonga's huge Vava'u project to be foreign funded . RNZ . 22 October 2022 . 26 June 2022.