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
|
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. |
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|
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.