Fiji Airways is the only airline providing services to the small South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu. Formerly referred to as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is located roughly halfway between Hawaii and Australia. It consists of three reef islands and six atolls situated west of the International Date Line.
As the second least populous country in the world, after the Vatican, Tuvalu covers a land area of merely 10 square miles and has a permanent population of about 10,600 residents. The regional branch of Fiji Airways, Fiji Link, operates an ATR 72-600 aircraft on the route connecting Fiji and Tuvalu, offering flights three times a week from Suva. The flight duration is approximately two hours.
Upon returning to Suva, passengers have access to several connecting flights that facilitate transfers to Nadi Airport, allowing for easier access to Fiji Airways’ broader network. Funafuti International Airport (FUN) is notable for its limited space, and when flights are not scheduled, the runway is occasionally utilized for sports and social events. A siren warns the local population to clear the area before a plane’s landing on the 5,000-foot paved runway.
In the past, Tuvalu’s airport also accommodated two other international airlines. Air Marshall Islands operated a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 until 1999, and Air Kiribati provided a weekly service with a Bombardier Dash 8 100 until September 2021.