Fiji Airways is the only airline operating flights to the small South Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Previously known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is located midway between Hawaii and Australia. The country consists of three reef islands and six atolls, positioned west of the International Date Line.
As the second least populous nation in the world after Vatican City, Tuvalu has an area of just 10 square miles and a resident population of approximately 10,600. Fiji Link, the regional branch of Fiji Airways, operates a service using the ATR 72-600, flying between Fiji and Tuvalu three times a week from Suva. The flight duration is approximately two hours.
Upon return to Suva, passengers can take advantage of various feeder flights to Nadi Airport, allowing them to connect to Fiji Airways’ broader network. Funafuti International Airport (FUN) is particularly distinctive due to the island’s limited space. In instances of unscheduled flights, the runway is sometimes used for sports and community events. A siren alerts residents when an aircraft is about to land, ensuring they keep clear of the 5,000-foot paved runway.
Historically, Tuvalu’s airport has seen operations from two other international carriers: Air Marshall Islands, which used to operate a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 until 1999, and Air Kiribati, which provided a weekly service with its Bombardier Dash 8 100 until September 2021.