Palau International Airport
Palau International Airport is the primary airport serving the Palau archipelago. The airport is just five miles from the heart of Koror and about three times as far to the capital city, Melekeok. Post-2006, the facility was renamed Roman Tmetuchl International Airport. Altogether, the airport blankets an area of about 480 acres, making it a medium sized facility.
The site is the base hub for national carrier Palau Airways, but there are several other carriers offering flights to the islands of Palau. Travelers from the US need to fly to another airport in Asia before reaching Palau, as there are no direct flights. Some of the major Asian hubs that are connected to Palau International Airport include Tokyo-Narita (Delta Air Lines), Seoul-Incheon (Asiana Airlines and Korean Air), and Guam (United Airlines).
The airport only has one terminal, which contains the basic amenities one would expect find in a Pacific nation’s main international airport. The terminal was originally built as a basic, bai-style building with few amenities. Today, this small modern facility features modern amenities. Car rental services are available in the Arrivals hall, in addition to restrooms, information desks, phone booths, and information screens.
There are several ways in which tourists can get from the airport to downtown Koror. Taxis are located outside the terminal’s entrance, with several companies offering this service. Before beginning the journey by taxi, passengers should ask what the fare is going to be. On average, taxi rates to the center of Koror rarely reach above US$20. In addition to taxi services, the airport is connected to hotels across Palau through pre-arranged shuttle buses. In the Arrivals hall of the airport terminal, car rental can be found. Some of the most commonly used companies with offices at the airport include Budget Car Rental and Palau Automotive.