Tuvalu
2.2.1 Tuvalu Funafuti International Airport

Airport Overview

Airport Overview 

Funafuti Airport was originally built by the United States Navy in 1943 during World War II. 

The airport is at an elevation of 9 feet (3 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway which is 1,524 metres (5,500 ft) in length. The absence of runway lighting, minimal VHF radio and air navigation equipment means that operations are restricted to daylight hours. 

 

The Tuvalu Aviation Investment Project (TvAIP), largely funded by the World Bank, is intended to improve the runway so that it achieves a minimum pavement classification number (PCN) of 16 to provide a load-carrying capacity of the pavement that rates the runway for emergency flights. TvAIP also involves improvements of navigational aids and other safety and security facilities to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements. 

Fiji Airlines (trading as Fiji Link) operates services 3 times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) between Suva (originating from Nadi) and Funafuti with ATR 72-600 aircraft, which has a capacity of up to 72 passengers. 

Air Kiribati provides one flight a week to Funafuti. The flight departs from and returns to Tarawa on Wednesday. The service uses a Bombardier Dash 8 100 series aircraft, which has the capacity to take up to 35 passengers. 

 

Airport Location and Contact 

Country 

Tuvalu 

Province or District 

Funafuti 

Nearest Town or City  
with Distance from Airport 

Vaiaku 

Surrounds airport 

Airport’s Complete Name 

Funafuti Atoll International Airport 

Latitude 

-8.524999 

Longitude 

179.196389 

Elevation (ft and m) 

3m (9ft) 

IATA Code 

FUN 

ICAO Code 

NGFU 

Managing Company or Airport Authority 

The Ministry Transport, Energy & Tourism (MTET) through the Civil Aviation Directorate (CAD) 

Management Contact Person 

Mr Uinga Paelate – Director Civil Aviation 

Mr Telaulini Niuatui – Airport Manager 

Open From (hours) 

0800 Mondays - Fridays 

Open To (hours) 

1600 Monday - Friday 

 

Airport Picture

1 Terminal building (customs & Immigration) 

2 Apron 

3 Meeting house (possible emergency storage) 

4 Department of Works yard 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

The Ministry of Transport, Energy & Tourism (MTET) through the Civil Aviation Directorate (CAD) manage the airport operations. Fiji Air and Air Kiribati service the airport   

For more information on airport contacts, please see the following link:4.5 Airport Companies Contact List 

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at:http://www.azfreight.com/  

Passenger and Cargo Performance Indicator

 

Performance for 2019 

 

Per Year 

Per Month 

Per week 

Total Aircraft Movements 

144 

12 

3 

Total Passengers 

10897 

908 

302 

Total Capacity of the Airport (MT) 

N/A 

 

 

Current Activity of the Airport (MT) 

N/A 

 

 

Current use by Humanitarian Flights (UNHAS) 

Nil.  

PHAS conducted flights during COVID pandemic in 2022 to deliver medical supplies. 

 

 

Cargo handling is carried out by manual labour. There are forklifts available at the adjacent works yards and the port. The terminal building has no storage space however there are open areas close to the runway where MSU’s could be set up if required. 

Runways 

There are some areas of depression and surface bubbling. An assessment by the supervision engineer working with the World Bank and the Tuvalu Aviation Investment Project determined that depressions in the surface had resulted from venting of air pressure in voids under the pavement caused by intensification of tidal movements due to climatic changes. Remedial work on this is ongoing 

Runway #1 

Runway Dimensions 

1,524m x 30m 

Orientation 

3/21 

Surface 

Paved (Coral/bitumen) 

Helicopter Pad(s) 

There are no specified helicopter pads but there is ample space to land on the apron or bare land adjacent to the runway 

Helipad #1 

Present 

  No 

Largest Helicopter that can Land 

Any 

Width and Length (m) 

N/A 

Surface 

Asphalt and/or grass 

  

  Airport Infrastructure Details 

    

Customs 

Yes  

JET A-1 fuel 

Yes 

Immigration 

Yes  

AVGAS 100 

No 

Terminal Building 

Yes  

Single Point Refuelling 

No 

Passenger Terminal 

Yes  

Air Starter Units 

No 

Cargo terminal 

No 

Ground Power (mobile) 

No 

Pax Transport to Airfield 

N/A 

Ground Handling Services 

Yes 

Control Tower 

Yes 

Latrine Servicing 

No 

Weather Facilities 

No 

Fire Fighting Category (ICAO) 

Yes 

Catering Services 

Yes 

De-icing Equipment 

No 

Base Operating Room 

No 

Parking Ramp Lighting 

No 

Airport Radar 

No 

Approach & Runway Lights 

No 

NDB 

Yes 

VOR 

No 

ILS 

No 

 

 

Airport Operating Details 

Operating Details 

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo 

C130 

Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet 

C130 

Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²) 

N/a 

Storage Area (m3 and MT) 

none 

Handling Equipment 

Elevators / Hi Loaders  

No 

Max Capacity (MT) 

 

Max Height 

(m) 

 

Loading Ramps 

No 

Other Comments 

Handling equipment (Forklifts) are available from adjacent Department of Works yard. 

Customs Guidance 

Customs are available during airport operating hours and on hand for all arrivals and departures  

For more information on customs in Tuvalu please see the following link:HQ staff will input a link to section 1.3 Customs Information here.   

Storage Facilities 

There are no storage facilities available at the airport, however there are sheds and meeting houses adjacent that could be used in an emergency 

Airfield Costs 

NAVIGATION CHARGES 

  No information on charges available  

FUEL SERVICES CHARGES 

    

 

Price per Litre USD - $ 

Jet A-1 

$1.00/L 

Avgas 

N/A 

CARGO TERMINAL CHARGES 

No information on charges available  

AIR-BRIDGE CHARGES 

There is no air-bridge available. 

Security 

The airport is unfenced. The airport is somewhat unusual in that due to limited space on the island, the runway is used as a common area for sporting and social activities when it is not in use. Sirens sound when a plane is about to land, warning residents to stay off the runway. 

 



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