Niue International Airport , also known as Hanan International Airport, is an international airport serving the island nation of

Niue Niue (, ; niu, Niuē) is an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, northeast of New Zealand. Niue's land area is about and its population, predominantly Polynesian, was about 1,600 in 2016. Niue is located in a triangle between Tong ...

. It is located near the town of

Alofi Alofi is the capital of the Pacific Ocean island nation of Niue. With a population of 597 in 2017, Alofi has the distinction of being the second smallest national capital city in terms of population (after Ngerulmud, capital of Palau). It cons ...

, and is only used by

Air New Zealand Air New Zealand Limited () is the flag carrier airline of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 30 international destinations in 18 countries, primarily around and within the Pacif ...

, flying to and from

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

twice a week, departing Auckland on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and departing Niue on Mondays and Fridays. Plans for an airfield on Niue were initially proposed in 1947, but were not advanced. In 1964 the

Niue Assembly The Niue Assembly ( niu, Niue Fono Ekepule) is the legislature of Niue. It consists of 20 members; 14 representatives of the villages and 6 elected on a common roll. Members are directly elected by universal suffrage, and serve a three-year t ...

asked the New Zealand government to construct an airport, and a site was surveyed. Originally an emergency airfield was planned, but following the survey the plans were upgraded to a full airfield capable of handling turboprop airliners. Construction would be carried out by the New Zealand Army. Construction began in 1968, with New Zealand Ministry of Works staff overseeing Niuean workers from the Department of Public Works. Funding was provided by the New Zealand government. The airport initially had a 5400 foot sealed runway. The airport received its first flight in December 1970, and its first commercial passengers in July 1971. It was formally opened in November 1971. It was initially served by

Polynesian Airlines Samoa Airways, formerly Polynesian Airlines, is the state-owned flag carrier airline of Samoa. The airline was founded in 1959 as "Polynesian Airlines", providing domestic and international flights throughout the South Pacific. International ope ...

Hawker Siddeley HS 748 The Hawker Siddeley HS 748 is a medium-sized turboprop airliner originally designed and initially produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Avro. It was the last aircraft to be developed by Avro prior to its absorption by Hawker Siddeley ...

s and Fokker F.27 Friendship aircraft from Fiji, but no direct flights from New Zealand. The runway was upgraded in 1981, with direct flights to

using

Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a narrow-body aircraft produced by Boeing at its Boeing Renton Factory, Renton Factory in Washington (state), Washington. Developed to supplement the Boeing 727 on short and thin routes, the twinjet retains the Boeing 707, 7 ...

s beginning that year. From 1990 to 1992, it served as the base of the now-defunct Niue Airline. The airport is named after

Ralph Hanan Josiah Ralph Hanan (13 June 1909 – 24 July 1969), known as Ralph Hanan, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party. He was Mayor of Invercargill and then represented the electorate in Parliament, following in his uncle Josiah Hanan's ...

, who was formerly a New Zealand Minister of Island Affairs.

Airlines and destinations

Notes

References

{{authority control Airports in Niue Alofi Airports established in 1970 1970 establishments in Niue