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.
7-399: 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
14-571: Is 851.9 mm (33.54 in) with March as the wettest month. The temperatures are highest on average in February, at around 26.9 °C (80.4 °F), and lowest in July, at around 19.5 °C (67.1 °F). The highest temperature ever recorded in Païta was 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) on 4 March 1997; the coldest temperature ever recorded was 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) on 8 August 1957. The Catholic church in
21-512: Is a commune in the suburbs of Nouméa in the South Province of New Caledonia , an overseas territory of France in the Pacific Ocean . New Caledonia's international airport, La Tontouta International Airport , is located there. Païta features a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen : Aw ). The average annual temperature in Païta is 23.3 °C (73.9 °F). The average annual rainfall
28-748: The aircraft. In addition, the airport has several more stands designed to handle smaller aircraft. 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. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights in Nouméa: [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency [REDACTED] Media related to La Tontouta International Airport at Wikimedia Commons Pa%C3%AFta Païta ( French pronunciation: [pajta] )
35-410: 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
42-627: The airport. 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: United States Marine Corps units based here included: A major expansion of
49-527: The centre of Paita was built in 1875. The modern Cultural Centre in the High Street is used for various exhibitions and cultural performances. The Town Hall ( Mairie ) is close by. About one mile from the town centre to the north, is the former railway station of the Nouméa-Païta railway where a small locomotive which was used until 1940 can be seen. In the southeast of Paita petroglyphs possibly dating from
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