Airports / Tonga / VAV
Vava'u International Airport.
Vava'u Island, Tonga · 236 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
3.8/5
Google rating
13 ratings
0
Operators based
236
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
75 nm
To the nearest alternate
Lifuka Island Airport (HPA).
Overview
Vava'u International Airport (NFTV / VAV) is a large commercial airport serving Vava'u Island, Tonga. The field lies at an elevation of 236 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
VAV has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Lifuka Island Airport (HPA, 75 nm), Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU, 173 nm), and Niue International Airport (IUE, 231 nm). VAV offers a single 5,593-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the heavy jet class.
Quotes for flights out of VAV vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Vavau and Lupepau'u. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from VAV, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
NFTV
IATA
VAV
FAA / Local
NFTV
Elevation
236 ft
Coordinates
18.5853° S · 173.9620° W
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 5,593 ft
- 08/265,593 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 5,593 ft
VAV's 5,593 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 75nmHPALifuka Island AirportLifuka
- 173nmTBUFua'amotu International AirportNuku'alofa
- 231nmIUENiue International AirportAlofi
- 307nmAPWFaleolo International AirportApia
- 317nmPPGPago Pago International AirportPago Pago
- 346nmWLSHihifo AirportWallis Island
Location
Open the full mapNFTV · Vava'u International Airport · Vava'u Island, Tonga
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from VAV on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 2,575 nm | 6h 23m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 4,456 nm | 10h 46m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 4,481 nm | 10h 49m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 4,679 nm | 11h 17m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 4,734 nm | 11h 25m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 4,841 nm | 11h 39m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 4,926 nm | 11h 51m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 4,959 nm | 11h 56m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use VAV?
- Vava'u International Airport's longest paved runway is 5,593 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to heavy jets. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at VAV?
- Vava'u International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 5,593 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to VAV?
- The closest alternate is Lifuka Island Airport (HPA), about 75 nm away, followed by Fua'amotu International Airport (TBU) at 173 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from VAV to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 6h 23m (2,575 nm), San Francisco about 10h 46m (4,456 nm), Los Angeles about 10h 49m (4,481 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.