Faleolo International Airport
Apia, Samoa
Faleolo International Airport
Samoa's primary international gateway on Upolu Island.
- ›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.
Faleolo International Airport, located approximately 35 kilometres west of Apia on the island of Upolu, serves as Samoa's primary international gateway. Opened in the 1960s and periodically upgraded, it handles the bulk of the country's air traffic connecting Samoa to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and beyond. Despite its modest size, Faleolo reflects the warmth of Samoan fa'a Samoa culture from the moment passengers step off the plane.
- Main Terminal — A single integrated terminal handling both international and domestic arrivals and departures with basic retail and check-in facilities.
- Taxi services available outside the arrivals hall
- Pre-arranged hotel shuttle transfers from most Apia resorts
- Car rental counters inside the terminal (Avis, local operators)
- Public bus services running along the main road toward Apia (limited frequency)
- Sheraton Samoa Aggie Grey's Hotel & Bungalows
- Taumeasina Island Resort
- Samoa Tradition Resort
- Insel Fehmarn Hotel
- Sinalei Reef Resort & Spa
Dining options within the terminal are limited to a small café and snack bar offering light meals, sandwiches, and local refreshments. Passengers are advised to eat before arriving at the airport as post-security choices are minimal. A broader range of Samoan cuisine and international restaurants can be found along the main road toward Apia.
- Allow extra travel time for the roughly 45-minute drive to central Apia, especially during peak hours or if travelling by public bus.
- Carry some Samoan Tala in cash as ATM availability at the airport is limited and not always reliable.
- Confirm your departure tax or airport charges are included in your ticket, as fees can sometimes be collected separately at the airport.
- Arrive well ahead of your scheduled departure — the terminal can become congested during international flight rushes despite the airport's small size.
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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.
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