Pohnpei International Airport
Encyclopedia
Pohnpei International Airport is an airport
located on Pohnpei
(formerly Ponape), the main island
of the State of Pohnpei and the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia
.
The extension of the Pohnpei International Airport began in 2009, and it is anticipated that it will be completed in 2011. The Japanese Government has agreed to provide about US $29 million for the entire project. The project includes extending the runway by 228m and improving the terminal facilities and apron. Enhancements will help prevent problems such as when a 727 cargo jet overran the runway and the airport had to be closed for 6 days in May 2008.
's "Island Hopper" route between Guam
and Honolulu (three times weekly in each direction) and the weekly Guam-Chuuk
-Pohnpei flight.
In addition to passenger services, Asia Pacific Airlines transports cargo (including U.S. mail) to and from Pohnpei.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located on Pohnpei
Pohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
(formerly Ponape), the main island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
of the State of Pohnpei and the capital of the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
.
The extension of the Pohnpei International Airport began in 2009, and it is anticipated that it will be completed in 2011. The Japanese Government has agreed to provide about US $29 million for the entire project. The project includes extending the runway by 228m and improving the terminal facilities and apron. Enhancements will help prevent problems such as when a 727 cargo jet overran the runway and the airport had to be closed for 6 days in May 2008.
Airlines and destinations
Like many islands within the region, commercial air service is rather limited due to small population and tourist traffic. The only scheduled passenger services for Pohnpei are ContinentalContinental Airlines
Continental Airlines was a major American airline now merged with United Airlines. On May 3, 2010, Continental Airlines, Inc. and UAL, Inc. announced a merger via a stock swap, and on October 1, 2010, the merger closed and UAL changed its name to United Continental Holdings, Inc...
's "Island Hopper" route between Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
and Honolulu (three times weekly in each direction) and the weekly Guam-Chuuk
Chuuk
Chuuk — formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus — is an island group in the south western part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia , along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's...
-Pohnpei flight.
In addition to passenger services, Asia Pacific Airlines transports cargo (including U.S. mail) to and from Pohnpei.