Lois Larson
There are several airports around the world that are considered remote, often due to their distance from another airport, their location in the middle of oceans, or their isolation in mountain communities. The world's most remote airport, defined by its distance from another airport, is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), also known as Isla de Pascua Airport, located in Hanga Roa, Easter Island. This airport is 2,336 miles (3,759 km) from Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile, the closest airport with a direct aerial connection to Easter Island. Other remote airports include Saint Helena Airport (HLE) in the British Overseas Territory of Saint Helena, Svalbard Airport (LYR) in Norway's Svalbard archipelago, and Paro International Airport (PBH) in Bhutan. These airports are characterized by their challenging locations, limited flight networks, and the adventurous travel experiences they offer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the world's most remote airport | Mataveri International Airport or Isla de Pascua Airport |
| Airport Code | IPC |
| Location | Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Polynesia |
| Distance from another airport | 2,336 miles (3,759 km) |
| Nearest airport | Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile |
| Number of passengers per year | 100,000+ |
| Airlines that operate flights | LATAM Chile, LAN-Chile |
| Aircraft used | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, Airbus A340, Boeing 767-300ER, Douglas DC-6B, Boeing 707-320 |
| Runway length | 3,318 m (10,885 ft) |
| Other remote airports | Svalbard Airport, Paro Airport, Saint Helena Airport, RAF Ascension Island, Cordova Airport |
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What You'll Learn
Mataveri International Airport, Easter Island
Mataveri International Airport, also known as Isla de Pascua Airport (IATA: IPC, ICAO: SCIP), is located in Hanga Roa, the main town and capital of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, in eastern Polynesia. It is considered the most remote airport in the world, defined by its distance from another airport. The closest airport to Easter Island is in Mangareva in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia), which is located 2603 kilometres away, although it has no direct connection with it. The closest airport with direct flights is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile, which is 3,759 kilometres away.
Mataveri International Airport is the main entry point for the more than 100,000 tourists who visit Easter Island each year. The airport's single runway is 3,318 metres long, and the airport was once designated as an abort site for the U.S. Space Shuttle. The project undertaken by NASA to lengthen the runway was completed in 1987 and enabled wide-bodied jets to use the airport, boosting tourism to the island. Due to the lack of diversion airports between Tahiti and South America, Chilean aviation authorities prohibit more than one aircraft from being in the vicinity of Mataveri.
The airport sees more than 100,000 passengers per year, who are drawn to the island by its archaeological sites and other attractions, such as the mo'ai - human-like figures carved from compressed volcanic ash between 1250 and 1500 CE. The remote location of the airport means that it can be easier to reach and avoid crowds by private plane. The large international rental car companies do not operate on Easter Island, but local companies offer car rental services, which must generally be reserved in advance.
Scheduled services from the Chilean mainland to Easter Island started in 1967 with a monthly Douglas DC-6B propliner flight operated by LAN-Chile that took nine hours, using a runway extended and paved for the use of a U.S. airline. In 1970, services were upgraded with weekly nonstop flights to Santiago, Chile, and Papeete, Tahiti, using a Boeing 707-320. LAN-Chile later replaced these with Boeing 767-200ER jet services and, in 1993, was operating twice-weekly round-trip flights on a routing of Santiago (SCL) – Easter Island (IPC) – Papeete (PPT). The airline also operated Airbus A340 and Boeing 767-300ER wide-body jetliners into the airport.
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Svalbard Airport, Norway
Svalbard Airport in Norway is the world's northernmost airport with public flights available. It is located 1.6 nautical miles (3.0 km; 1.8 mi) northwest of Longyearbyen, the largest settlement on Svalbard. The airport also serves the nearby Russian settlement of Barentsburg.
The airport is operated by Avinor, Norway's government-owned airport operator, which manages over 40 other airports across the country. It is the busiest airport on Svalbard Island, with flights to destinations such as Oslo and Tromsø.
Svalbard Airport is unique in its construction, with its runway being insulated against the ground to prevent melting during the summer. The hangar is frozen into the ground, with pillars melted and then frozen in place. The airport has faced challenges due to frost heaves caused by incorrect construction methods, requiring regular re-asphalting of the runway.
In terms of accessibility, Svalbard Airport is quite remote. There is no regular boat service to the airport at any time of the year. The only way to arrive by ship is as part of an expedition cruise. Therefore, it is recommended to charter a private flight if you plan to visit Svalbard as part of a Northern Norway adventure.
The airport plays a crucial role in the local community, which has historically relied heavily on coal for power generation and economic activities. However, there has been a recent shift towards alternative power sources, with the closure of Longyearbyen's coal-fired power station in 2023 and a transition to a diesel-powered plant, reducing carbon emissions significantly.
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Paro Airport, Bhutan
Paro Airport has a single asphalt runway, which was lengthened in 1990 to accommodate larger aircraft. The runway is 2,265 meters (7,431 feet) long, and the airport has one terminal building, commissioned in 1999. Due to its high-altitude location and short runway, only small planes and seaplanes are typically used, with specific aircraft requirements mandated by the Bhutanese government. Only a limited number of specially-trained pilots are permitted to fly into Paro Airport, and all flights are restricted to daytime hours, from sunrise to sunset.
The airport was constructed in 1968 by the Indian Border Roads Organisation, initially serving as a helipad for the Indian Armed Forces operating on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan. The first commercial flights began in 1983, operated by Drukair, Bhutan's first airline, with an 18-seat Dornier 228-200 aircraft. In 1988, Drukair acquired its first jet, a BAe 146-100, which was replaced by an Airbus A319-100 in 2004.
Paro Airport is a major hub linking Bhutan to the world, offering international flights to destinations such as New Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, and Bangkok. The airport has seen significant growth in passenger numbers, with 181,659 passengers in 2012, increasing to 397,599 by 2018. The airport has undergone developments, including a modified departure terminal, a cargo building, a relocated substation, and a parallel taxiway.
While Paro Airport is renowned for its remote and challenging location, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding Himalayas and provides access to trekking opportunities and monasteries built into the cliffs of the mountains.
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St Helena Airport, Saint Helena Island
The world's most remote airport is Mataveri International Airport, also known as Isla de Pascua Airport (IPC), located in Hanga Roa, the main town and capital of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, in eastern Polynesia. The closest airport to Easter Island is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile, which is 2,336 miles (3,759 km) away.
Another extremely remote airport is St Helena Airport (HLE) on St Helena Island, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. The island is 1,770 km from the west coast of Africa, over 3,200 km from South America, and 1,300 km from its closest airport, the Royal Air Force Station Wideawake Airfield (ASI) on Ascension Island.
The idea of an airport on St Helena Island was first considered in 1943 by the South African Air Force, which concluded that an airport was technically feasible but not practical. The UK government finally decided to go ahead with the airport in the 2000s, driven in part by concerns over a tense standoff with Argentina over the Falkland Islands sovereignty dispute. The airport received its Aerodrome Certificate in May 2016, indicating that it complied with international aviation safety and security standards. However, due to concerns over wind shear and turbulence, the airport did not initially allow commercial operations. The first commercial charter flight with paying passengers took place in May 2017, operated by SA Airlink from Cape Town with refuelling in Moçâmedes, Angola.
St Helena Airport is served once a week by Airlink, with a 98-seat Embraer E190 aircraft operating between Johannesburg and St Helena, with a refuelling stop in Walvis Bay, Namibia. The airline also operates a monthly charter service to Ascension Island. Due to the remote location and limited commercial service, visitors typically need to stay for at least a week, and the monthly continuation flight to Ascension provides an opportunity to visit St Helena for just one day.
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Cordova Airport, Alaska
The world's most remote airport is generally considered to be Mataveri International Airport (IATA: IPC, ICAO: SCIP), also known as Isla de Pascua Airport. It is located in Hanga Roa, the main town and capital of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island, in eastern Polynesia. The closest airport to Mataveri International Airport is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile, which is 2,336 miles (3,759 km) away.
However, if you are specifically interested in Cordova Airport, Alaska, this airport is also quite remote. Cordova Airport, also known as Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport (IATA: CDV, ICAO: PACV, FAA LID: CDV/CKU), is located in the US state of Alaska. Cordova is not accessible by road, so the best way to reach it is by chartering a private flight directly to the airport. The airport is located 11 nautical miles (13 miles or 20 km) southeast of Cordova's central business district.
Merle K. (Mudhole) Smith Airport covers an area of 2,959 acres (1,197 ha) and sits at an elevation of 54 feet (16 m) above mean sea level. The airport has two runways: 9/27, which is 7,500 by 150 feet (2,286 x 46 m) with an asphalt surface, and 16/34, which is 1,899 by 30 feet (579 x 9 m) with a gravel surface. The airport is named after Merle K. Smith, also known as "Mudhole," a pilot who became president of Cordova Airlines in 1939.
Cordova Municipal Airport (IATA: CKU, FAA LID: CKU) is another airport serving Cordova, located one nautical mile (1.8 km) east of the city's central business district. This airport has one runway (6/24) with a 1,800 by 60 ft (549 x 18 m) gravel surface, as well as a seaplane landing area (9W/27W) measuring 8,000 by 3,000 ft (2,438 x 914 m).
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Frequently asked questions
The world's most remote airport, defined by the distance from another airport, is Mataveri International Airport (IPC), also known as Isla de Pascua Airport. It is located in Hanga Roa, the main town and capital of Rapa Nui, or Easter Island in eastern Polynesia. The closest airport is Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile, which is 2,336 miles (3,759 km) away.
Mataveri International Airport is accessible via 12 weekly flights operated by the Chilean flag carrier LATAM Chile between Easter Island and its hub at Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago, Chile. These flights are serviced by a fleet of Boeing 787s, with a daily roundtrip Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner service connecting the two airports.
Some other remote airports include:
- Svalbard Airport (LYR) in Norway, the northernmost airport in the world with scheduled commercial flights
- Paro International Airport (PBH) in Bhutan, considered one of the world's most challenging airports due to its surrounding mountains
- St Helena Airport (HLE) in the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha, located over 3,200 km from South America
- Cordova Airport in Cordova, Alaska, which is inaccessible by road
Airports can be considered remote due to their geographical location, such as being located on islands, in isolated mountain communities, or in arctic regions. Additionally, the distance from another airport and the lack of multiple airlines servicing the airport can contribute to its remoteness.
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