Tongareva Airport Jet Charters

Tongareva Airport, located on the remote Penrhyn Island in the Cook Islands, holds a unique historical significance, particularly during World War II. In the early 1940s, the island became a focal point for the United States military due to its strategic location in the Pacific. In 1942, a remarkable undertaking began as 1,000 U.S. servicemen worked tirelessly to construct a massive 10,000-foot airstrip on the motu of Moananui. This substantial airstrip played a crucial role during the war, serving as a vital transportation hub for troops and essential supplies. Although the island itself did not face direct attacks, it became a pivotal staging ground for American military operations in the region.

Today, Tongareva Airport stands as a testament to the island’s wartime history and its contribution to the Allied efforts during World War II. While the airstrip is no longer in military use, it remains an essential lifeline for the island’s residents and an occasional point of arrival for charter flights. Air Rarotonga, the Cook Islands’ regional carrier, operates charter services connecting Penrhyn Island to Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands. These flights utilize Embraer Bandeirante and Cessna Citation II aircraft, ensuring that the island maintains its connection to the outside world while preserving its historical legacy as a wartime hub in the Pacific.