Airports / Kiribati / CXI
Cassidy International Airport.
Kiritimati, Kiribati · 5 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
4.2/5
Google rating
38 ratings
0
Operators based
5
Elevation ft
Google rating
Google reviews
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
#2 / 4
Kiribati airports by Google rating
4.2★ across 38 Google ratings , ranked against 4 rated Kiribati fields.
908 nm
To the nearest alternate
Canton Island Airport (CIS).
Overview
Cassidy International Airport (PLCH / CXI) sits in Kiritimati, Kiribati, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 5 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
CXI has no resident charter fleet; trips here are typically flown by operators repositioning from surrounding airports. Useful alternates include Canton Island Airport (CIS, 908 nm), Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA, 1069 nm), and Hilo International Airport (ITO, 1073 nm). CXI offers a single 6,900-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
Quotes for flights out of CXI vary with aircraft type, repositioning, and schedule flexibility. The airport is also known as Christmas Island and Banana. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from CXI, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
PLCH
IATA
CXI
FAA / Local
PLCH
Elevation
5 ft
Coordinates
1.9863° N · 157.3500° 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 6,900 ft
- 08/266,900 ft × 98 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,900 ft
CXI's 6,900 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.
- 908nmCISCanton Island AirportAbariringa
- 1069nmKOAEllison Onizuka Kona International Airport at KeāholeKailua-Kona
- 1073nmITOHilo International AirportHilo
- 1086nmMUEWaimea Kohala AirportWaimea (Kamuela)
- 1129nmLNYLanai AirportLanai City
- 1132nmHNMHana AirportHana
Location
Open the full mapPLCH · Cassidy International Airport · Kiritimati, Kiribati
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from CXI on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Honolulu (HNL) | 1,161 nm | 3h 6m |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 2,879 nm | 7h 6m |
| Los Angeles (VNY) | 2,910 nm | 7h 10m |
| Las Vegas (LAS) | 3,109 nm | 7h 38m |
| Scottsdale (SCF) | 3,177 nm | 7h 47m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 3,280 nm | 8h 2m |
| Salt Lake City (SLC) | 3,383 nm | 8h 16m |
| Jackson Hole (JAC) | 3,518 nm | 8h 35m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use CXI?
- Cassidy International Airport's longest paved runway is 6,900 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 CXI?
- Cassidy International Airport has one runway; the longest measures 6,900 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to CXI?
- The closest alternate is Canton Island Airport (CIS), about 908 nm away, followed by Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole (KOA) at 1069 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from CXI to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Honolulu about 3h 6m (1,161 nm), San Francisco about 7h 6m (2,879 nm), Los Angeles about 7h 10m (2,910 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.