La Tontouta International Airport, also known as Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport (; ), is the main international airport in New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, as well as the military base (Base aérienne 186 Nouméa) for the French Air Force based in New Caledonia.
The airport is located in the municipality of Païta, approximately northwest of Nouméa. La Tontouta International Airport serves international flights, while Nouméa Magenta Airport, within the city of Nouméa, serves domestic flights. The airport is regularly served by four airlines, including Aircalin, which is based at the airport. In 2017, 529,349 passengers used the airport.
History World War II Tontouta Air Base was originally constructed by the United States Navy's Seabees. THe base played a role during the Pacific War of the Second World War. The base had two runways numbered 3/21 and 11/29. The base reverted to French control after the war and today's remaining runway is aligned on 11/29.Marine Air Group 25 and SCAT, William M. Armstrong, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC, 2017, p.25
United States Army Air Forces units based here included: 64th Troop Carrier Squadron operating Douglas C-47 Skytrains in 1943 67th Fighter Squadron operating Bell P-39 Airacobras from 17 March 1942 – 24 April 1943
United States Marine Corps units based here included:
VMF-212 operating Grumman F4F Wildcats VMO-251 operating Grumman F4F Wildcats from June–August 1942
Terminal expansion
A major expansion of the airport's terminal was completed in 2012 after several years of work. The project resulted in a significant increase in the terminal's size and included a new arrivals area, a larger check-in area and the installation of two jetbridges. The terminal now has five stands capable of handling commercial jet aircraft, two of which are served by the new airbridges and three of which utilise stairs to access the aircraft. In addition, the airport has several more stands designed to handle smaller aircraft.
2024 New Caledonia unrest In response to the 2024 New Caledonia unrest, Nouméa's international airport was closed until 21 May 2024. Due to the airport's closure, Air New Zealand cancelled its flights to Nouméa scheduled for 18 and 20 May.
Airlines and destinations
The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights in Nouméa:
Statistics
+Nouméa - La TontoutaYearPassengersFreight (tonnes)Commercial aircraft movements 2000359,8395,2443,111 2001348,0255,0613,118 2002359,2935,0943,349 2003371,2475,1973,128 2004388,3085,2003,330 2005409,0965,5663,254 2006415,8135,4513,290 2007445,3055,6063,440 2008457,3876,2203,661 2009462,6985,8093,730 2010479,8036,2213,797 2011492,8306,2993,787 2012486,1715,6323,814 2013476,1744,9533,701 2014479,8434,8703,822 2015497,7184,8113,891 2016515,1664,4074,052 2017529,3494,2773,749 2018538,7914,0493,746 2019569,9014,0893,989 2020166,1983,2801,509 202153,6083,646906 2022320,3334,0242,261 2023492,6403,1923,517 2024359,4192,8403,176
See also Nouméa Magenta Airport, the domestic airport for Nouméa.
References
External links
Nouméa-La Tontouta International Airport (official website) French Aeronautical Information Publication for (PDF) – NOUMÉA LA TONTOUTA Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta at L'Union des Aéroports Français