Airports / Vanuatu / SON
Santo Pekoa International Airport.
Luganville, Vanuatu · 184 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
2.7/5
Google rating
56 ratings
0
Operators based
184
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
80 nm
To the nearest alternate
Gaua Island Airport (ZGU).
Overview
Santo Pekoa International Airport (NVSS / SON) is a mid-sized airport serving Luganville, Vanuatu. The airport sits 184 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into SON for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Gaua Island Airport (ZGU, 80 nm), Bauerfield International Airport (VLI, 146 nm), and Whitegrass Airport (TAH, 263 nm). With a single 6,523-foot paved runway, SON can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from SON depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from Luganville.
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Field capability
ICAO
NVSS
IATA
SON
FAA / Local
NVSS
Elevation
184 ft
Coordinates
15.5050° S · 167.2200° E
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
Medium
Scheduled svc
Yes
Runways & aircraft access
1 runway
longest 6,523 ft
- 12/306,523 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,523 ft
SON's 6,523 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- 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.
- 80nmZGUGaua Island AirportGaua Island
- 146nmVLIBauerfield International AirportPort Vila
- 263nmTAHWhitegrass AirportTanna Island
- 311nmUVEOuvéa AirportOuvéa
- 316nmLIFLifou AirportLifou
- 336nmTOUTouho AirportTouho
Location
Open the full mapNVSS · Santo Pekoa International Airport · Luganville, Vanuatu
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from SON on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 3,017 nm | 7h 25m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,036 nm | 12h 7m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 5,084 nm | 12h 13m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 5,178 nm | 12h 27m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 5,332 nm | 12h 48m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 5,371 nm | 12h 53m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 5,475 nm | 13h 8m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 5,603 nm | 13h 26m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use SON?
- Santo Pekoa International Airport's longest paved runway is 6,523 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. 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 SON?
- Santo Pekoa International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 6,523 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to SON?
- The closest alternate is Gaua Island Airport (ZGU), about 80 nm away, followed by Bauerfield International Airport (VLI) at 146 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from SON to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 7h 25m (3,017 nm), Anchorage about 12h 7m (5,036 nm), San Francisco about 12h 13m (5,084 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.