# La Tontouta International Airport

La Tontouta International Airport, also known as Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport (French: Aéroport de Nouméa - La Tontouta; IATA: NOU, ICAO: NWWW), is the main international airport in New Caledonia, an overseas collectivity of France in the southwest Pacific Ocean, as well as the military base (Base aérienne 186 Nouméa) for the French Air Force based in New Caledonia.
The airport is located in the municipality of Païta, approximately 37 km (23 mi) 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.

## History
### World War II

Tontouta Air Base was originally constructed by the United States Navy's Seabees for the Pacific Theater of the 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.
United States Army Air Forces units based here included:
* 64th Troop Carrier Squadron operating Douglas C-47 Skytrains in 1943
* 67th Fighter Squadron operating Bell P-39 Airacobras from 17 March 1942 – 24 April 1943
United States Marine Corps units based here included:
* VMF-212 operating Grumman F4F Wildcats
* VMO-251 operating Grumman F4F Wildcats from June–August 1942

### Terminal expansion

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 jetbridges. 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.

## Airlines and destinations

The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights in Nouméa:
| Airlines | Destinations |
| Air Calédonie | Port Vila |
| Air New Zealand | Auckland (resumes 23 June 2025) |
| Aircalin | Auckland, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Brisbane, Nadi, Papeete, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Port Vila, Singapore, Sydney, Wallis Island |
| Fiji Airways | Nadi (suspended) |
| Qantas | Sydney |
| QantasLink | Brisbane |

## Statistics

Nouméa - La Tontouta :
| Year | Passengers | Freight (tonnes) | Commercial aircraft 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 | | |