Air Tungaru

Air Tungaru was the first airline of Kiribati. As the predecessor of current Air Kiribati, it was Kiribati's national flag carrier. Air Tungaru's main base was the international airport at Kiribati's capital, South Tarawa. From there, regular service was provided to all 16 domestic airports in the Gilbert Islands.

Air Tungaru jet at Bonriki Airport, Tarawa, mid 1980s

Using a Boeing 727-100 airplane, the airline operated also an international service between Tarawa and Honolulu, United States via Kanton Island or Kiritimati and between Tarawa and the Tuvalu an capital Funafuti, the latter being operated using a de Havilland Heron aircraft.