Bonriki International Airport | |||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||
| Operator | Government | ||||||||||
| Serves | Tarawa,Kiribati | ||||||||||
| Location | Bonriki,South Tarawa | ||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 9 ft / 3 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 01°22′54″N173°08′49″E / 1.38167°N 173.14694°E /1.38167; 173.14694 | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  TRW/NGTA TRW/NGTA (Oceania) Show map of Oceania | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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| Source:DAFIF[1][2] | |||||||||||
Bonriki International Airport (IATA:TRW,ICAO:NGTA) is an internationalairport inKiribati, serving as the main gateway to the country. It is located in its capital,South Tarawa, which is a group ofislets in theatoll ofTarawa in theGilbert Islands, precisely onBonriki.
Fiji's national carrier,Fiji Airways, connects Kiribati withNadi, which is Fiji Airways' hub and Fiji's main international gateway.Nauru Airlines flies toNauru International Airport, continuing toHoniara, the capital ofSolomon Islands.
The airport is the hub of the only two Kiribati airlines, flag carrierAir Kiribati and the 2009-establishedCoral Sun Airways, with both airlines mainly flying domestic routes within theGilbert Islands. Air Kiribati and Coral Sun Airways both serve all 16 other airports in the Gilbert Islands, but not all these destinations are flown directly from Tarawa.
The airport was built in December 1943 (82 years ago) (1943-12) byUnited States NavySeabees and was named "Mullinix Field", in honor of Rear Admiral Henry M. Mullinix, who died in the sinking of theUSSLiscome Bay on 24 November 1943 after it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off theGilbert Islands.
Almost immediately after the completion of the runway, it became the nexus ofUnited States Army Air Forces (USAAF) operations from Tarawa, as the runway at nearbyHawkins Field onBetio was too short for safe bomber operations. The longer runway at Mullinix became the base for theVII Bomber Command Headquarters, which directed operations against Japanese forces in theMarshall Islands. In addition, the USAAF stationed theB-24 Liberator-equipped11th Bombardment Group andB-25 Mitchell-equipped41st Bombardment Group at the airfield.
In April 1944, the land-based units moved forward toKwajalein Airfield in theMarshall Islands, and shortly thereafter, Mullinix was reduced to an emergency airfield. By the end of the war, the Americans abandoned the facilities and the airfield was turned into a civilian airport.[3][4][5]
The airport is at anelevation of 9 feet (3 m) abovemean sea level. It has onerunway designated 09/27 with anasphalt surface measuring 2,011 by 41 metres (6,598 ft × 135 ft).[1]
| Airlines | Destinations |
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| Air Kiribati | Abaiang,Abemama,Butaritari,Kuria,Maiana,Makin,Marakei,Nonouti,Tabiteuea North |
| Fiji Airways | Nadi[6] |
| Nauru Airlines | Brisbane,Kiritimati,[7]Koror,[8]Majuro,Nauru,Pohnpei[9] |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Previously: Hawaiian Air Force (1940-1942) | |||||||||||||||||||||
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