Japan Funds Upgrade to Tonga’s Fua‘amotu Airport

The Japanese Government will provide Tonga with over USD17 million to upgrade Airport International Airport (TBU). Japan’s Ambassador to Tonga, Inagaki Hisao, formally signed off on the funding on August 19, 2025.

Originally built in 1989 with help from Japan’s, Fua’amotu is Tonga’s major international gateway, handling over 125,000 passenger movements in 2024.

Thirty six years later, the planned improvements include refurbishing and expanding the international passenger terminal, installing a passenger boarding air-bridge and elevator, and constructing a covered shelter at the terminal’s entrance.

The grant is managed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, which is under the control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They estimate it will take around three and a half years to complete the work. The grant follows an official request for assistance by Tonga to Japan.

“This new project marks another milestone in the enduring partnership between the two nations,” an August 19 statement from Tonga’s Ministry of Infrastructure reads.

Fua’amotu has a 2,681 metre asphalt runway and is served by four scheduled passenger airlines, including Qantas who fly to Sydney (SYD), Air New Zealand who fly to Auckland (AKL), and Fiji Airways who fly to Nadi (NAN). Local carrier Lulutai Airlines links Fua’amotu to smaller towns and villages around Tonga.

Photo: Tonga's Ministry of Infrastructure