Fua’amotu International Airport
This is Tonga’s main airport and international gateway, situated on the main island of Tongatapua, around 20 miles from the capital city. Long-haul flights operated by Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand exist to Sydney, Australia, and Auckland, New Zealand. Connections are also available to Fiji, which has long-distance flights to North American and Asian destinations. The route from Nadi or Suva takes around 45 minutes and is operated by Air Pacific. There are domestic Chathams Pacific Airways flights to the larger Tongan islands of ‘Eua, Ha’Apai, and Vava’u.
The airport is fairly small, with separate terminal buildings for international and domestic flights. However, there is a host of services, including places to eat and drink, and the usual duty-free store in the international terminal. Taxis wait to meet incoming flights, although you should always ask your hotel about an airport transport service. The airport is on the other side of the island to the capital, Nuku’alofa, and the expected journey time is about 30 minutes. There is no public bus operating this route.
Other Airports in Tonga
To get to the larger islands of Tonga, you will need to fly unless you sail there. There are airports with scheduled commercial flights on the islands of ‘Eua, Ha’apai, and Vava’u, all of which are connected with the main and largest island of Tongatapau. The journey from Tongatapau to ‘Eua, which is the world’s shortest scheduled flight, takes just eight minutes in a light aircraft.