Fiji Airways is the only airline offering services to the small South Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Formerly referred to as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is located midway between Hawaii and Australia. The country consists of three reef islands and six atolls situated west of the International Date Line.
As the second least populated country in the world after the Vatican, Tuvalu spans merely 10 square miles with a permanent population of approximately 10,600 residents. The regional subsidiary of Fiji Airways, Fiji Link, operates an ATR 72-600 aircraft on flights between Fiji and Tuvalu, providing service three times a week from Suva, with each journey taking around two hours.
Upon returning to Suva, passengers can access several connecting flights to Nadi Airport, allowing them to link up with the broader Fiji Airways network. Funafuti International Airport (FUN) in Tuvalu is particularly distinctive due to the island’s limited space. In cases of unexpected flight schedules, the runway is often utilized for sports and community events. A siren alerts locals when a plane is preparing to land, cautioning them to vacate the 5,000-foot paved runway.
Historically, Tuvalu’s airport accommodated two other international airlines. Air Marshall Islands operated a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 until 1999, while Air Kiribati provided a weekly service with its Bombardier Dash 8 100 until September 2021.