Fiji Airways is the only airline operating in the small South Pacific nation of Tuvalu. Previously known as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is located approximately midway between Hawaii and Australia. The nation consists of three reef islands and six atolls situated west of the International Date Line.
As the second least populated country in the world, following the Vatican, Tuvalu covers a mere 10 square miles with a resident population of about 10,600. Fiji Airways’ regional subsidiary, Fiji Link, operates its ATR 72-600 aircraft on the route between Fiji and Tuvalu, providing service three times a week from Suva. The flight duration is around two hours.
Upon returning to Suva, Fiji Airways offers numerous feeder flights to Nadi Airport, allowing passengers to connect seamlessly to the broader Fiji Airways network. Funafuti International Airport (FUN) is notable for its limited size; when flights are not in operation, the runway is used for various sports and community activities. A siren alerts residents when an aircraft is approaching to land, prompting them to stay away from the 5,000-foot paved runway.
Historically, the airport in this small nation had two additional international airlines servicing the area. Air Marshall Islands operated flights using a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 until 1999, and Air Kiribati provided weekly service with its Bombardier Dash 8 100 until September 2021.