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Faleolo International Airport International Hub illustrationInternational Hub
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Faleolo International Airport

Apia, Samoa
Explore Apia city guide Navigate to this airport
5
Routes out
3
Destinations
NSFA
ICAO
58 ft
Elevation
AirlinesAirports profile

Samoa's primary international gateway on Upolu Island.

Opened
1962
Location
Apia, Samoa
Faleolo International Airport is the main international airport serving Samoa, located on the northwestern coast of Upolu Island, approximately 35 kilometres west of the capital Apia. It handles the vast majority of international passenger traffic to and from the Samoan archipelago. The airport serves as a key hub for regional connectivity in the South Pacific, with flights linking Samoa to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Tonga, and American Samoa. Samoa Airways uses Faleolo as its primary base of operations. The facility has undergone infrastructure improvements over the years with support from development partners including the Asian Development Bank and the governments of Australia and New Zealand, aimed at upgrading the runway, terminal facilities, and safety systems.
Terminals
The airport operates a single passenger terminal handling both international and domestic arrivals and departures.
Getting to & from
Ground transport between the airport and central Apia is available via taxis and rental cars, with the journey taking approximately 35 to 45 minutes.
Airlines here
Major carriers serving Faleolo include Samoa Airways, Air New Zealand, Fiji Airways, and Virgin Australia.
Notable facts
  • ›Located about 35 km west of Apia, the capital city of Samoa.
  • ›Serves as the main hub for the national carrier, Samoa Airways.
  • ›The airport's single runway is approximately 2,400 metres long.
  • ›International development funding has supported several runway and terminal upgrade projects.
  • ›A smaller domestic airport, Fagali'i, also serves Apia but handles very limited traffic.
Official website Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (3 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Routes

APW → HNLFJ · 73H
APW → NANFJ · 73H
APW → AKLNZ · 320 763
APW → AKLUS · 320 763
APW → AKLVA · 73H
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City & Place Guide

Laid-back Pacific capital where Polynesian culture meets tropical shores.

Apia is the small but vibrant capital of Samoa, sitting on the northern coast of Upolu island. With a population of around 40,000, it blends colonial-era buildings, colorful markets, and open-air churches into an easygoing waterfront town that serves as the gateway to the island's lush interior and pristine beaches.

The city revolves around the harbor and Beach Road, where you'll find government buildings, the lively Fugalei Market, and plenty of local cafés. Beyond the town, visitors can reach blowholes, rainforests, and remote villages within an hour's drive, making Apia an ideal base for exploring all of Upolu.

  • •Robert Louis Stevenson Museum — beautifully preserved home of the beloved Scottish author who spent his final years in Samoa.
  • •Palolo Deep Marine Reserve — snorkel a colorful reef just minutes from downtown Apia.
  • •Fugalei Market — the heart of daily Samoan life, packed with tropical produce, tapa cloth, and street food.
  • •Papase'ea Sliding Rocks — natural rock slides into refreshing jungle pools a short drive from town.
  • •Immaculate Conception Cathedral — striking colonial-era Catholic church dominating the Apia skyline.
  • •To Sua Ocean Trench — iconic volcanic swimming hole framed by lush gardens on the south coast of Upolu.

Getting around: Apia has no rail system. Colorful locally operated buses are the cheapest way to travel around Upolu, departing from the Fugalei and Savalalo bus stations. Taxis are plentiful and affordable but use negotiated fares rather than meters. Rideshare apps are not widely available, so renting a car or scooter is the best option for independent exploration of the island's far-flung beaches and villages.

Best time: The dry season from May to October offers the most comfortable weather with lower humidity and reduced risk of tropical cyclones.

Local food: Try palusami (coconut cream baked in taro leaves), oka (Samoan raw fish marinated in citrus and coconut milk), and fresh tropical fruit shakes from the Fugalei Market.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via APW? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for Samoa from official government sources.

Samoa visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →
Faleolo International Airport
Encyclopaedia

Faleolo International Airport is an airport located 40 kilometres (25 mi) west of Apia, the capital of Samoa. Until 1984, Faleolo could not accommodate jets larger than a Boeing 737. Services to the United States, Australia, or New Zealand, could only land at Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa. Since the airport's expansion, most international traffic now uses Faleolo.

Read full article on Wikipedia

Entity data from open aviation datasets (OurAirports, OpenFlights) with AI-assisted editorial clearly marked. Always confirm time-sensitive details with the official airport website. Sources & verification