Fa'a'ā International Airport

Fa'a'ā International Airport
Aéroport International Tahiti Fa'a'ā
IATA: PPT – ICAO: NTAA
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator SETIL - Aéroports
Serves Tahiti, French Polynesia
Location Pape'ete
Hub for Air Tahiti
Air Tahiti Nui
Elevation AMSL 2 m / 5 ft
Coordinates 17°33′24″S 149°36′41″W / 17.55667°S 149.61139°WCoordinates: 17°33′24″S 149°36′41″W / 17.55667°S 149.61139°W
Website tahiti-aeroport.pf
Map
NTAA

Location in Tahiti

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 3,420 11,220 Bitumen/Asphalt
Statistics (2013)
Total passengers 1,150,610
Sources: French AIP[1] Aéroport.fr[2]

Fa'a'ā International Airport (French: Aéroport International Tahiti Fa'a'ā) (IATA: PPT, ICAO: NTAA) is in the commune (municipality) of Fa'a'ā, on the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, 5 km (3.1 mi) west southwest[1] from the town center of Pape'ete, the capital of French Polynesia.[1] Tahiti is in the northwestern part of French Polynesia, and this is the only international airport in the overseas collectivity of the French Republic. It opened in 1960.

Because of limited level terrain, rather than leveling large stretches of sloping agricultural land, the airport is built primarily on reclaimed land on the coral reef just off-shore. The airport, operated by Setil Aéroports, has a single 3,420 m (11,220 ft) runway,[1] that can accommodate all commercial and military aircraft.

Air Tahiti has its head office at the airport.[3]

Overview

Fa'a'ā International Airport is relatively small. Air Tahiti has flights every day going to all the other islands in French Polynesia while international flights go to countries such as France, Japan, the United States, or New Zealand. The airport is on Tahiti which is an island among the Windward Islands: the eastern part of the Society Islands. Mo'orea can be seen across the Pacific Ocean and Mount Tohive'a is a major mountain on Mo'orea. The airport has a 20 m (66 ft) tall control tower and a 3,420 m (11,220 ft) long runway able to handle aircraft up to Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 size.

Terminals

There are five terminals within one main building. Terminal 2 is the busiest terminal with cafés and souvenir shops. There is an area called the Mahina Lounge. There is one McDonald's at the airport and it is one of the five McDonald's in all of French Polynesia. The conveyor belts are rubber and transport luggage about 40 ft (12 m). The floors in all of the terminals are brown tile. There are metal chairs and wooden benches throughout the airport in which people wait for the bus or other islanders to pick them up.

The Mahina Lounge is a small airside lounge, after the security area. The Mahina Lounge consists of a small café, a jewelry boutique, and a souvenir shop. The café has only a few chairs and offers wine, French pastries, and other foods. The small restaurant is called the Fa'a'ā Cafe and is near the entrance to the Mahina Lounge. The jewelry shop offers Tahitian jewelry and some dresses. The souvenir shop offers postcards, magnets, T-shirts and Tahitian magazines. The souvenir shop has a border with the jewelry shop and people are allowed to go through the border when they have purchased their souvenirs. The open area of the lounge contains 50 purple seats in five rows. When boarding, passengers go to the departure gate which is just behind a wall.

Ground transportation

Many buses come into the airport from Pape'ete, the main bus being the Fa'a'ā airport shuttle which goes along Tahiti's west coast freeway, which passes in front of the main terminal. The parking lot has traffic guards in which 3,000 people pass through each month. The parking lot has one tiki.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines Destinations Terminal
Air France Los Angeles, Paris-Charles de Gaulle International
Air New Zealand Auckland International
Air Tahiti Ahe, Anaa, Atuona, Arutua, Bora Bora, Fakarava,Hiva Oa, Hao, Huahine, Kauehi, Kaukura, Makemo, Manihi, Mataiva, Maupiti, Moorea, Niau, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Raivavae, Rangiroa, Rarotonga, Rimatara, Rurutu, Takaroa, Tatakoto, Tikehau, Totegegie, Tubuai, Domestic
Air Tahiti Nui Auckland, Los Angeles, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Tokyo-Narita International
Aircalin Nouméa International
Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu International
LAN Airlines Hanga Roa/Easter Island, Santiago de Chile International

Statistics

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Passenger Traffic[2] 1,548,327 1,466,370 1,370,254 1,424,365 1,413,572 1,447,260 1,535,825 1,511,340 1,379,832 1,223,315 1,183,273 1,169,819 1,152,593 1,150,610
Airline Passengers (2013) Market share
Air Tahiti Nui 342.432 65%
Air France 83.984 16%
Air New Zealand 39.378 7%
Hawaiian Airlines 22.725 4%

[4]

Accidents and incidents

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 NTAA – Tahiti Faa'a (PDF). AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 30 Apr 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Aéroport.fr - Statistiques annuelles Aéroport de Tahiti Faa'a (french only)
  3. ↑ "Préambule" Air Tahiti. Retrieved on 2 February 2011. "Société Air Tahiti Société Anonyme au capital de 2 760 000 000 CFP Siège social : aéroport de Tahiti - Faaa BP 314 - 98713 Papeete – Tahiti – Polynésie Française ."
  4. ↑ https://www.airtahitinui.com/sites/default/files/air-tahiti-nui-progress-2013.pdf
  5. ↑ Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network for Pan Am Flight 816
  6. ↑ AirDisaster.Com: Accident Photo: Air France F-GITA
  7. ↑ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network.
  8. ↑ Accident on at Tahiti Faaa Airport to the DC10-10 registered N132AA operated by Hawaiian Airlines

External links