Vatukoula, FJ 🇫🇯 Closed Airport
FJ-0005
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156 ft
FJ-W
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Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: -17.499603° N, 177.863075° E
Continent: OC
Type: Closed Airport
Keywords: NFNV NFNV VAU
Vatukoula Airport (FJ-0005) in Vatukoula, Fiji, is currently closed. Therefore, there are no recent traveler reviews or experiences available regarding its operations, facilities, or services.
Historically, Vatukoula Airport served the local mining community and provided domestic connections to other parts of Fiji for tourists interested in the region's mining heritage. However, due to its closure, direct traveler experiences at the airport itself are no longer applicable.
Travelers looking to reach the Vatukoula area typically utilize transfer services from other operational airports in Fiji, such as Nadi International Airport (NAN) or Nausori International Airport (SUV). These transfer services, offered by various companies, are generally well-regarded for their convenience and professionalism in transporting passengers to and from the Vatukoula region.
What Travelers Love (related to transfers to/from Vatukoula area):
In summary, as Vatukoula Airport (FJ-0005) is closed, direct traveler reviews are nonexistent. Travelers to the Vatukoula area rely on external transfer services, which generally receive positive feedback for their efficiency and customer service in connecting the region to larger, operational airports in Fiji.
Researching traveler experiences online...
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The airport ceased regular operations around 2006. The closure is directly linked to the temporary shutdown of the Vatukoula Gold Mine in December 2006. While an exact date of official decommissioning is not publicly available, the airstrip fell into disuse after the mine's activities, which were its sole reason for existence, were halted.
The closure was for economic reasons, directly resulting from the temporary cessation of operations at the Vatukoula Gold Mine. The airstrip was a private facility owned and operated to serve the mine. When the mine closed in 2006 due to financial difficulties, the airstrip no longer had a purpose and was not economically viable to maintain. Even after the mine reopened under new ownership in 2007, improved road infrastructure to Nadi International Airport (a ~2-hour drive) made the private airstrip redundant.
The airport is closed and non-operational for aviation. The runway is still visible but is in a state of disrepair, with a degraded surface and vegetation growth. The site is now primarily used for non-aviation purposes, most notably as a venue for local community and sporting events, including drag racing competitions hosted by organizations like the Fiji Car Club.
Vatukoula Airport was a private airstrip of significant historical importance to Fiji's economy. Established to serve the Vatukoula Gold Mine, one of the country's largest and longest-running industrial operations, it was a vital transportation link for decades. It handled the transport of mine executives, specialized personnel, urgent equipment, and was used for medical evacuations. The mine's original operator, Emperor Gold Mining Company, used the airstrip for its corporate aircraft (including types like the de Havilland Drover). It was an essential piece of infrastructure for the remote, self-contained mining town, connecting it to major hubs like Nadi and Suva long before modern road networks were fully developed.
There are no known official plans or credible prospects for reopening Vatukoula Airport for aviation services. The significant cost of runway and facility restoration to meet modern safety standards, combined with the relatively efficient road connection to Nadi International Airport (NAN), makes its reopening economically unfeasible for the current mine operators. The business case for a private airstrip is considered weak in the current logistical context.