Vavaʻu International Airport

Vavaʻu International Airport (IATA: VAV, ICAO: NFTV), also known as Lupepauʻu International Airport, is an airport in Vavaʻu, Tonga.

Vavaʻu International Airport Lupepauʻu International Airport
IATA: VAV ICAO: NFTV
Summary
Airport type	Public
Operator	Ministry of Civil Aviation
Location	Vavaʻu, Tonga
Elevation AMSL	236 ft / 72 m
Coordinates	18°35′07″S 173°57′42″W
Map
NFTV Location of airport in Tonga
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 08/26 5,593 1,705 Bitumen
Source: World Aero Data[1]

Vava’u is Tonga’s main tourism hub, where some 34 islands provide both dramatic scenery and a world-renowned center for water related activities; sailing, fishing, diving. In season (July - October) humpback whales migrate north to mate and calf in the warm waters of Vava’u providing spectacular sights for visitors as well as opportunities to swim with whales.

The airport is located 10 km (6.2 mi) north of the capital Neiafu.

Vava'u is an international airport with limited direct service, currently through Fiji Airways.[2] Charters and private aircraft may also use the International facilities at Vava'u airport by contacting Tonga Airports Ltd.

Domestic air services are operated by Real Tonga which operates all domestic air services in Tonga. They generally run their MA60 aircraft on this route; however, due to the controversy generated by safety concerns, the airline announced in June 2014 that they will begin using Jetstream 32 aircraft on the route instead.[3]

Less frequent services connect Vava’u to Ha’apai, Niuafo’ou and Niuatoputapu. Flight time is 50 minutes to Tongatapu, 30 minutes to Ha’apai and a little over one hour to both Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’u.[4][5][6]