Air Tungaru
Encyclopedia
Air Tungaru was the first airline of Kiribati
. As the predecessor of current Air Kiribati
, it was Kiribati's national flag carrier. Air Tungaru's main base was the international airport
at Kiribati's capital, South Tarawa
. From there, regular service was provided to all 16 domestic airports in the Gilbert Islands
.
Using a Boeing 727
airplane, the airline operated also an international service between Tarawa and Honolulu, United States
via Kanton Island
or Kiritimati
and between Tarawa and the Tuvalu
an capital Funafuti
, the latter being operated using a de Havilland Heron
aircraft.
North America
Oceania
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
. As the predecessor of current Air Kiribati
Air Kiribati
Air Kiribati Limited is the national airline of Kiribati operating passenger services within the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati, and to Fiji. It also operates charters, medical evacuation and search and rescue services. Its main base is Bonriki International Airport, Tarawa Atoll.Until 2008, it was...
, it was Kiribati's national flag carrier. Air Tungaru's main base was the international airport
Bonriki International Airport
-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific...
at Kiribati's capital, South Tarawa
South Tarawa
South Tarawa is the official capital of the Republic of Kiribati on Tarawa Atoll. The meaning of Teinainano is "down of the mast", alluding to the sail-shape of the atoll...
. From there, regular service was provided to all 16 domestic airports in the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
.
Using a Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
airplane, the airline operated also an international service between Tarawa and Honolulu, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
via Kanton Island
Kanton Island
Kanton Island , alternatively known as "Mary Island", "Mary Balcout's Island" or "Swallow Island", is the largest, northernmost, and as of 2007, the sole inhabited island of the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It is an atoll located in the South Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between...
or Kiritimati
Kiritimati
Kiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands, and part of the Republic of Kiribati....
and between Tarawa and the Tuvalu
Tuvalu
Tuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
an capital Funafuti
Funafuti
Funafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
, the latter being operated using a de Havilland Heron
De Havilland Heron
The de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...
aircraft.
North AmericaNorth AmericaNorth America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Honolulu - Honolulu International AirportHonolulu International AirportHonolulu International Airport is the principal aviation gateway of the City & County of Honolulu and the State of Hawaii and is identified as one of the busiest airports in the United States, with traffic now exceeding 21 million passengers a year and rising.It is located in the Honolulu...
- Honolulu - Honolulu International Airport
OceaniaOceaniaOceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
- KiribatiKiribatiKiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
- AbaiangAbaiangAbaiang, also spelled Apaiang, sometimes called Apiaia, and formerly named Charlotte Island, Matthews or Six Isles, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
- Abaiang Atoll AirportAbaiang Atoll AirportAbaiang Atoll Airport , often abbreviated Abaiang Airport, is the airport serving Abaiang, Kiribati. It is located on Abaiang Island, between the villages of Tabwiroa and Tuarabu .... - AbemamaAbemamaAbemama is an atoll in the central part of the Kiribati Group located 152 kilometres southeast of Tarawa and just north of the Equator.- Geography :...
- Abemama Atoll AirportAbemama Atoll AirportAbemama Atoll Airport , often abbreviated Abemama Airport, is the airport serving Abemama, Kiribati. It is located on the north of the atoll, 200 meters northeast of the village of Tabiang.... - AranukaAranukaAranuka is an atoll of Kiribati, located just north of the equator, in the Gilbert Islands...
- Aranuka AirportAranuka AirportAranuka Airport is an airport, located approximately one kilometre north of the centre of Buariki on the island of Buariki, Aranuka, Kiribati.... - AroraeAroraeArorae is an atoll in Kiribati located near the equator.- Geography :The atoll's area is 9,5 km² and has a population of about 1,225 inhabitants most of which are Protestants. The largest villages on the atoll are Roreti, Tamaroa and Taribo.The atoll is a low and flat coralline island with an...
- Arorae Island AirportArorae Island AirportArorae Island Airport is the airport serving Arorae, Kiribati. It is located in the north of the island, north of the village of Tamaroa.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Tabiteuea North, which is connected directly with the international airport at South Tarawa, but lands at Tamana too... - BeruBeru IslandBeru Island is an island located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati. Beru was previously known as Eliza, Francis Island, Maria, Peroat, Peru Island or Sunday.- Geography :...
- Beru Island AirportBeru Island AirportBeru Island Airport is the airport serving Beru Island. The island is located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati.... - ButaritariButaritariButaritari is an atoll located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati.-Geography:...
- Butaritari Atoll AirportButaritari Atoll Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific-References:* Maurer, Maurer . Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.... - KiritimatiKiritimatiKiritimati or Christmas Island is a Pacific Ocean raised coral atoll in the northern Line Islands, and part of the Republic of Kiribati....
- Cassidy International AirportCassidy International AirportCassidy International Airport is an airport located north of Banana, a settlement on Kiritimati in Kiribati. It is the only airport in the Kiribatian part of the Line Islands with an IATA and/or ICAO code.... - Kuria - Kuria Airport
- MaianaMaianaMaiana is a district of Kiribati and an atoll in the North Gilbert Islands. The north and eastern sides of the atoll are a single island whilst the western edge consists of submerged reefs, all surrounding a lagoon...
- Maiana Airport - MakinMakin (islands)Makin is the name of a chain of islands located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati, specifically in the Gilbert Islands.-Geography:...
- Makin Airport - MarakeiMarakeiMarakei is a small atoll in the North Gilbert Islands. The central lagoon consists of numerous deep basins and surrounded by two large islands which are separated by two narrow channels. The atoll covers an area of 13.5 km².- Geography :...
- Marakei AirportMarakei AirportMarakei Airport is the airport serving Marakei, Kiribati. It is located on the northern tip of the atoll, near the village of Rawannawi.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Abaiang on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays... - NikunauNikunauNikunau is a low coral island located in the Gilbert Islands and forms a council district of the Republic of Kiribati. The island consists of two parts which are joined by an isthmus about 150 m wide....
- Nikunau AirportNikunau AirportMarakei Airport is the airport serving Nikunau, Kiribati. It is located on the western tip of the atoll.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Beru Island Airport on Beru Island, from which you can transfer to fly to Bonriki International Airport in Tarawa.-Airlines and destinations:... - NonoutiNonoutiNonouti is an atoll and district of Kiribati. The atoll is located in the South Gilbert Islands, 38 km north of Tabiteuea, and 250 km south of Tarawa. The eastern side of the atoll is the primary permanent landmass. There is an islet on the northwest side of the atoll called Noumatong. Noumatong...
- Nonouti Airport - OnotoaOnotoaOnotoa is an atoll and district of Kiribati. It is situated in the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 65 km from Tamana, the smallest island in the Gilberts....
- Onotoa Airport - Tabiteuea North - Tabiteuea North Airport
- Tabiteuea South - Tabiteuea South Airport
- TamanaTamanaTamana is the smallest island in the Gilbert Islands. It is accessible both by boat and by air with Air Kiribati and Coral Sun Airways -References:* from the Navy Art Gallery...
- Tamana Airport - Tarawa - Bonriki International AirportBonriki International Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific...
Hub
- Abaiang
- TuvaluTuvaluTuvalu , formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls...
- FunafutiFunafutiFunafuti is an atoll that forms the capital of the island nation of Tuvalu. It has a population of 4,492 , making it the most populated atoll in the country. It is a narrow sweep of land between 20 and 400 metres wide, encircling a large lagoon 18 km long and 14 km wide, with a surface of...
- Funafuti International AirportFunafuti International AirportFunafuti International Airport is an airport located in Funafuti, capital of the island nation of Tuvalu.-History:Funafuti Airport was built by United States Navy Seabee construction battalions in 1943 during World War II. The military airfield included an airstrip, control tower, facilities and...
- Funafuti
Fleet
- 1 Boeing 727-30CBoeing 727The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
- 1 Boeing 737-214Boeing 737The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
- 1 de Havilland HeronDe Havilland HeronThe de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...