imported>CHCBOY: /* Airlines and destinations */ add ref

2025-05-23T13:14:56Z

Airlines and destinations: add ref

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{{Infobox airport
| name = Tontouta International Airport
| nativename = {{lang|fr|Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta}}
| nativename-a =
| nativename-r =
| image = Hangar - Aéroport Nouméa-La Tontouta.JPG
| image-width = 250
| caption =
| IATA = NOU
| ICAO = NWWW
| type = Military/public
| owner =
| operator = New Caledonia Chamber of Commerce & Industry
| city-served = [[Nouméa]]
| location = [[Païta]], [[New Caledonia]], [[France]]
| hub = [[Aircalin]]
| elevation-f = 52
| elevation-m = 16
| coordinates = {{coord|22|00|59|S|166|12|58|E|region:NC|display=inline,title}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.aeroports.cci.nc/en/tontouta/}}
| pushpin_map = New Caledonia#Oceania
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of airport in [[Païta]], [[New Caledonia]]
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_image =
| pushpin_label = '''NOU'''/NWWW
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mark =
| pushpin_marksize =
| metric-elev =
| metric-rwy = y
| r1-number = 11/29
| r1-length-f = 10,663
| r1-length-m = 3,250
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]
| stat-year = 2023
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 492,193
| stat2-header = Passenger traffic change
| stat2-data = {{increase}} 53.7%
| stat3-header = Aircraft movements
| stat3-data = 3,602
| stat4-header = Aircraft movements change
| stat4-data = {{increase}} 51.3%
| footnotes = Source: Aeroport.fr<ref name=AER>{{cite web|title=Résultats d'activité des aéroports français 2018|url=https://www.aeroport.fr/uploads/Rapport%20d'activit%C3%A9%20final.pdf |website=aeroport.fr|access-date=31 August 2019}}</ref>
}}

'''La Tontouta International Airport''', also known as '''Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport''' ({{langx|fr|Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta}}; {{Airport codes|NOU|NWWW|p=n}}), is the main [[international airport]] in [[New Caledonia]], an [[Overseas France|overseas collectivity]] of [[France]] in the southwest [[Pacific Ocean]], as well as the military base (Base aérienne 186 Nouméa) for the [[French Air and Space Force|French Air Force]] based in New Caledonia.

The airport is located in the municipality of [[Païta]], approximately {{convert|37|km|mi|abbr=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroport.fr/les-aeroports-de-l-uaf/stats-noumea-la-tontouta.php |title=Annual statistics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125000239/http://www.aeroport.fr/les-aeroports-de-l-uaf/stats-noumea-la-tontouta.php |archive-date=2006-11-25 }}</ref>

==History==
===World War II===
Tontouta Air Base was originally constructed by the [[United States Navy]]'s [[Seabees]] for the [[Pacific Ocean theater of World War II|Pacific Theater]] of the [[World War II|Second World War]]. The base had two runways numbered 3/21 and 11/29. The base reverted to local (French) control after the war and today's remaining runway is aligned on 11/29.<ref>Marine Air Group 25 and SCAT, William M. Armstrong, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, SC, 2017, p.25 [https://books.google.com/books?id=dqg0DwAAQBAJ&dq=la+tontouta+international+airport+SEABEES&pg=PA25]</ref>

[[United States Army Air Forces]] units based here included:
*[[64th Air Refueling Squadron|64th Troop Carrier Squadron]] operating [[Douglas C-47 Skytrain]]s in 1943
*[[67th Fighter Squadron]] operating [[Bell P-39 Airacobra]]s from 17 March 1942 – 24 April 1943
[[File:B-17-e-41-2426-new-calidenoia.jpg|thumb|[[Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress]] of the 11th Bomb Group, 43d Bomb Squadron at Tontouta in August 1942]]

[[United States Marine Corps]] units based here included:

*[[VMF-212]] operating [[Grumman F4F Wildcat]]s
*[[VMO-251]] operating Grumman F4F Wildcats from June–August 1942

===Terminal expansion===
[[File:Air France Boeing 747-400 at La Tontouta Airport, Noumea.jpg|thumb|right|An Air France Boeing 747-400 at La Tontouta Airport in February 2000]]
[[File:Aircalin_Airbus_A330_at_La_Tontouta_Airport.jpg|thumb|right|An Air Calin Airbus A330-200 at the airport in July 2011, with the terminal redevelopment underway in the background]]
[[File:Hall - Aéroport Nouméa-La Tontouta.JPG|thumb|right|A garden on the ground floor of the terminal]]

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 [[jetbridge]]s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport Development (Australasia) - No. 911 |url=http://www.mombergerairport.info/userfiles/files/911DEV.pdf |website=Momberger Airport Information |access-date=15 June 2018 |date=25 August 2011}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=New Caledonia's Nouméa airport is closed until Tuesday, Air New Zealand says |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/517083/new-caledonia-s-noumea-airport-is-closed-until-tuesday-air-new-zealand-says |access-date=17 May 2024 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=17 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517023232/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/517083/new-caledonia-s-noumea-airport-is-closed-until-tuesday-air-new-zealand-says |archive-date=17 May 2024}}</ref>

==Airlines and destinations==

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights in Nouméa:

{{airport-dest-list

| [[Air Calédonie]] | [[Bauerfield International Airport|Port Vila]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Air Caledonie Begins Noumea – Port Vila Service From Oct 2024 |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240913-tysboct24vli |website=Aeroroutes |access-date=13 September 2024}}</ref>

| {{nowrap|[[Air New Zealand]]}} | [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]] (resumes 1 November 2025)<ref>{{cite news |title=Air New Zealand to resume Auckland-Nouméa flights from November |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/561905/air-new-zealand-to-resume-auckland-noumea-flights-from-november |access-date=23 May 2025 |work=RNZ |date=23 May 2025 |language=en-nz}}</ref>

| [[Aircalin]] | [[Auckland Airport|Auckland]], [[Suvarnabhumi Airport|Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi]],<ref name="la1ere">{{cite web |title=Aircalin va desservir Paris via Bangkok, une opportunité aussi pour les Polynésiens |url=https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/polynesie/tahiti/polynesie-francaise/aircalin-va-desservir-paris-via-bangkok-une-opportunite-aussi-pour-les-polynesiens-1521704.html |website=Francetvinfo |access-date=15 September 2024 |language=fr |date=14 September 2024}}</ref> [[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]], [[Nadi Airport|Nadi]], [[Faa'a International Airport|Papeete]], [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris–Charles de Gaulle]],<ref name="la1ere"/> [[Bauerfield International Airport|Port Vila]], [[Changi Airport|Singapore]], [[Sydney Airport|Sydney]], [[Hihifo Airport|Wallis Island]]

| [[Qantas]] |[[Sydney Airport|Sydney]]<ref name="abc">{{cite web |last1=Dingwall |first1=Doug |title=Riot-stricken New Caledonia is empty of travellers. Businesses hope it can regain its place as a Pacific tourism jewel |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-06-30/new-caledonia-tourism-civil-unrest-travel-noumea/104026412 |website=ABC News |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 July 2024 |language=en-AU |date=29 June 2024}}</ref>
| [[QantasLink]]|[[Brisbane Airport|Brisbane]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Qantas Tentatively Resumes Noumea Service From Nov 2024|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240712-qfnw24nou}}</ref>}}

==Statistics==

{{Airport-Statistics|iata=NOU}}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Nouméa - La Tontouta<ref>{{cite web |title=Statistiques annuelles: Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta |url=http://www.aeroport.fr/view-statistiques/noumea-la-tontouta |publisher=Union des Aéroports Français |access-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918021508/http://www.aeroport.fr/view-statistiques/noumea-la-tontouta |archive-date=18 September 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Year'''
! style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Passengers'''
! style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Freight (tonnes)'''
! style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''Commercial aircraft <br/> movements'''
|-
| '''2000'''||359,839||5,244||3,111
|-
| '''2001'''||348,025||5,061||3,118
|-
| '''2002'''||359,293||5,094||3,349
|-
| '''2003'''||371,247||5,197||3,128
|-
| '''2004'''||388,308||5,200||3,330
|-
| '''2005'''||409,096||5,566||3,254
|-
| '''2006'''||415,813||5,451||3,290
|-
| '''2007'''||445,305||5,606||3,440
|-
| '''2008'''||457,387||6,220||3,661
|-
| '''2009'''||462,698||5,809||3,730
|-
| '''2010'''||479,803||6,221||3,797
|-
| '''2011'''||492,830||6,299||3,787
|-
| '''2012'''||486,171||5,632||3,814
|-
| '''2013'''||476,174||4,953||3,701
|-
| '''2014'''||479,843||4,870||3,822
|-
| '''2015'''||497,718||4,811||3,891
|-
| '''2016'''||515,166||4,407||4,052
|-
| '''2017'''||529,349||4,277||3,844
|-
| '''2018'''||538,791||||
|}

==See also==
*[[Nouméa Magenta Airport]], the domestic airport for Nouméa.

==References==
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110507023715/http://www.tontouta-aeroport.nc/ Aéroport international de Nouméa - La Tontouta] (official website) {{in lang|fr}}
*French [[Aeronautical Information Publication]] for '''{{AIP FR|NWWW|PAC-N}}''' <small>([[Portable Document Format|PDF]])</small> – NOUMÉA '''LA TONTOUTA'''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060614145105/http://www.aeroport.fr/les-aeroports-de-l-uaf/noumea-la-tontouta.php Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta] at [[L'Union des Aéroports Français]] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Portalbar|Aviation}}
{{Airports in France|state=collapsed}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Airports in New Caledonia]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Nouméa]]
[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II]]
[[Category:Seabees]]

La Tontouta International Airport - Revision history

imported>CHCBOY: /* Airlines and destinations */ add ref