What Airport Do You Fly into for Tonga?
All getaways to Tonga start with booking a flight, but where should you book a flight to? We’ll go over some advice in this guide to the arrival airports in Tonga!
There are two international airports in Tonga, taking in arrivals from New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa and American Samoa. You might decide on which airport to arrive in Tonga depending on which destination you’re coming from, as well as which arrival island sounds like the best destination to you. This guide will outline which airports you can arrive in from various destinations.
The International Airports in Tonga
Tonga has six airports, two of which are international airports, which also serve domestic flights.
Fua’amotu International Airport (TBU) is Tonga’s busiest airport with frequent flights between international destinations, as well as other islands in Tonga. Fua’amotu Airport is approximately 25 km (15 mi) from Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital, where travellers can also connect to ferry services.
Vava’u International Airport (VAV) or Lupepau’u International Airport is located on the main island of Vava’u, 10 km (6 mi) from Neiafu where travellers can connect to ferry services. The airport has international connections to other South Pacific Islands, as well as Tongatapu and The Niuas within Tonga.
Domestic Airports in Tonga
As for the domestic airports in Tonga, learn more about each one, the airlines that service them, and what facilities they have in our guide, What are the Airports in Tonga?
(c) tongapocketguide.comWhich Airport to Arrive in Tonga from New Zealand
One of the most frequent flights available to Tonga from overseas is from Auckland, New Zealand. Flights from Auckland with Air New Zealand go back and forth to Fua’amotu Airport daily except Sundays with a slightly reduced schedule in the low season (around February and March).
Fua’amotu International Airport, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
Flights from Auckland land at Fua’amotu International Airport, which is Tonga’s busiest airport with the most connecting flights to other islands in Tonga, as well as to Fiji and Australia. Fua’amotu Airport is 25 km (15 mi) from Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital, where travellers can also connect to ferry services or stick to the main island. Learn more about Nuku’alofa in The Complete Guide to Nuku’alofa.
Arriving at Fua’amotu Airport means you also have easy access to the rest of the island of Tongatapu, which you can learn more about in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu.
(c) tongapocketguide.comWhich Airport to Arrive in Tonga from Australia
Flights arrive from Sydney, Australia twice a week, landing at Fua’amotu International Airport near Nuku’alofa, the nation’s capital on the island of Tongatapu. Flights operate all year round with Qantas.
Fua’amotu International Airport, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
Flights from Sydney land at Fua’amotu International Airport, which is Tonga’s busiest airport with the most connecting flights to other islands in Tonga, as well as to Fiji and Australia. Fua’amotu Airport is 25 km (15 mi) from Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital, where travellers can also connect to ferry services or stick to the main island. Learn more about Nuku’alofa in The Complete Guide to Nuku’alofa.
Arriving at Fua’amotu Airport means you also have easy access to the rest of the island of Tongatapu, which you can learn more about in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu.
(c) tongapocketguide.comWhich Airport to Arrive in Tonga from Fiji
Fiji is one of the best-connected South Pacific islands to Tonga in terms of air travel. Flights with Fiji Airways operate between Nadi, Fiji and Fua’amotu Airport and Lupepau’u International Airport at least once a week but often more if it is the high season.
Fua’amotu International Airport, Nuku’alofa, Tongatapu
Flights from Nadi land at Fua’amotu International Airport, which is Tonga’s busiest airport with the most connecting flights to other islands in Tonga, as well as to Fiji and Australia. Fua’amotu Airport is 25 km (15 mi) from Nuku’alofa, Tonga’s capital, where travellers can also connect to ferry services or stick to the main island. Learn more about Nuku’alofa in The Complete Guide to Nuku’alofa.
Arriving at Fua’amotu Airport means you also have easy access to the rest of the island of Tongatapu, which you can learn more about in The Complete Guide to Tongatapu.
Lupepau’u International Airport, Vava’u
Flights from Nadi also land at Lupepau’u International Airport on the main island of Vava’u, 10 km (6 mi) from Neiafu. Connecting flights can only be made to two of Tonga’s other island groups, Tongatapu and The Niuas, so it’s best to land in Vava’u if this is your main destination, which you can learn more about in The Complete Guide to Vava’u.
© TongaPocketGuide.comWhich Airport to Arrive in Tonga from Samoa and American Samoa
Samoa and American Samoa are connected to Tonga through flights between Apia, Samoa and Pago Pago, American Samoa and Vava’u Airport with Talofa Airways. Both routes operate twice a week.
Lupepau’u International Airport, Vava’u
Flights from Apia, Samoa and Pago Pago, American Samoa land at Lupepau’u International Airport on the main island of Vava’u. As the only direct flight connection between Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga, Vava’u Airport is the best airport to fly into from Samoa and American Samoa. Several flights travel to Tongatapu per day (except Sundays) should you want to make connecting flights to other island groups in Tonga. The airport is also 10 km (6 mi) from Neiafu where connecting ferries are located.
We recommend spending some time visiting Vava’u, using The Complete Guide to Vava’u, before visiting other islands.
(c) tongapocketguide.comArriving from Elsewhere in the World…
Those travelling from elsewhere in the world will need to get a connecting flight from either New Zealand, Australia or Fiji. Auckland Airport (New Zealand) and Sydney Airport (Australia) are the best-connected airports to other international destinations, generally making them the best option if you need to do a stopover.
Nadi Airport (Fiji) is your next best option with flights connecting to other South Pacific Islands, as well as Pacific Rim countries such as the US, Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore.
More About Arrival Airports in Tonga
That’s it for our guide to the arrival airports in Tonga and which airport to fly into for Tonga. For more about the flight to Tonga, take a look at more of our insightful guides:
- How Long Does it Take to Fly to Tonga?
- Which Airlines Fly Directly to Tonga?
- The Guide to Domestic Flights in Tonga
Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in How to Get to Tonga and our Tonga Transport Guide: 10 Ways to Get Around Tonga.
