A Quick Guide to Tonga’s Airports
Tonga is a nation of 169 islands split into five different groups. Getting between each island group is easy if done by plane. In this guide to Tonga’s airports, we go over the different airports in Tonga to show where you can fly to and what facilities to expect (if any).
5 Facts About the Airports in Tonga
- Out of the six airports in Tonga, two of them have coral airstrips and one of them has a grass airstrip
- Ha’apai’s Salote Pilolevu Airport has a main road running across the runway
- The flight between Tongatapu and ‘Eua is said to be the world’s shortest scheduled flight at approximately 7 minutes long
- Domestic flights can be cancelled in Tonga for a number of reasons: low visibility, bad weather, the royal family wants to use the planes, pigs on the runway…
- What takes one hour to fly from Tongatapu to Vava’u can take up to 24 hours on the MV ‘Otuanga’ofa ferry!
(c) tongapocketguide.comFua’amotu International Airport
Location: Tongatapu
Fua’amotu International Airport is the main airport for international arrivals in Tonga. The airport is located 21km (13 miles) from Nuku’alofa, a 30-minute drive away. There are separate domestic and international terminals, where access between the two is available by taxi and a terminal transfer bus. Learn more about Tongatapu in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu.
Airlines that Fly to Fua’amotu Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Fua’amotu Airport: Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, Virgin Australia, Talofa Airways and Lulutai Airlines.
Facilities at the International Terminal
- Duty-free shops
- Gift shops
- Cafes
- Currency exchange
- Car rentals
- Car park
- Airport lounge
Facilities at the Domestic Terminal
- Cafe
(c) tongapocketguide.comLupepau’u International Airport
Location: Vava’u
Lupepau’u International Airport, also known as Vava’u International Airport, receives international arrivals from Fiji and Samoa, as well as domestic flights from Tongatapu, Niuatoputapu, Niuafo’ou and Ha’apai. The airport is located approximately 10km (6 miles) from Neiafu. Learn more about Vava’u in The Complete Guide to Vava’u.
Airlines the Fly to Lupepau’u Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Lupepau’u Airport: Fiji Airways and Lulutai Airlines.
Facilities at the Airport
- Cafe
(c) tongapocketguide.comSalote Pilolevu Airport
Location: Lifuka Island, Ha’apai
One of the gateways to the Ha’apai island group, Salote Pilolevu Airport is located on Lifuka Island, 5km (3 miles) north of Pangai. It has regular flights to and from Tongatapu with Lulutai Airlines, as well as weekly flights to and from Vava’u. Learn more about Ha’apai in The Complete Guide to Ha’apai.
Airlines the Fly to Salote Pilolevu Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Pilolevu Airport: Lulutai Airlines.
Facilities at the Airport
- Cafe
(c) tongapocketguide.comKaufana Airport
Location: ‘Eua
Regular flights operate between Kaufana Airport on ‘Eua Island and Tongatapu with Lulutai Airlines. The flight between the two airports is said to be the shortest scheduled flight in the world at approximately 7 minutes. Kaufana Airport is located about 3km (1.8 miles) southeast of ‘Ohonua. The airport doesn’t have any notable facilities. The airstrip is an unsealed coral strip. Learn more about ‘Eua in The Complete Guide to ‘Eua.
Airlines the Fly to Kaufana Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Kaufana Airport: Lulutai Airlines.
(c) tongapocketguide.comMata’aho Airport
Location: Niuatoputapu
Mata’aho Airport is the airport connecting the far-flung island of Niuatoputapu to the rest of Tonga. Flights operate twice a month between Niuatoputapu and Vava’u through Lulutai Airlines. There are no notable facilities at the airport, which consists of an airfield with an unsealed coral strip. Mata’aho Airport sits 3.5km (2.1 miles) south of Hihifo. Learn more about Niuatoputapu in The Complete Guide to The Niuas.
Airlines the Fly to Mata’aho Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Mata’aho Airport: Lulutai Airlines.
(c) Maailmakansalainen on WikipediaKuini Lavinia Airport
Location: Niuafo’ou
Kuini Lavinia Airport (Queen Lavinia Airport) is the airstrip on Niuafo’ou. Flights to the island operate between Niuafo’ou and Vava’u once a month. There are no notable facilities at the airport other than a grass strip airfield. Learn more about Niuafo’ou in The Complete Guide to The Niuas.
Airlines the Fly to Kuini Lavinia Airport
The following airlines fly to and from Kuini Lavinia Airport: Lulutai Airlines.
More About the Airports in Tonga
- How Much Does it Cost to Fly in Tonga
- Where Can You Fly to in Tonga?
- How to Book a Cheap Flight to Tonga
That’s it for the airports in Tonga. For itineraries to inspire you on where to visit, take a look at the following compilations: The Best Tonga Itineraries for 2 Weeks, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 1 Week, The Best Tonga Itineraries for 5 Days and The Best Tonga Itineraries for a Weekend.
