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CIS · medium airport

Canton Island Airport

Abariringa, Kiribati

Airports
CISmedium airport

Canton Island Airport

Abariringa, Kiribati
Explore Abariringa city guide Navigate to this airport
0
Routes out
0
Destinations
PCIS
ICAO
9 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

Remote Pacific atoll airport on historic Canton Island.

Opened
1938
Location
Abariringa, Kiribati
Canton Island Airport (IATA: CIS, ICAO: PCIS) is located on Canton Island (also known as Kanton or Abariringa), part of the Phoenix Islands group in Kiribati. The island is one of the most remote and sparsely populated atolls in the central Pacific Ocean, and the airport serves primarily as a point of access for the few inhabitants and occasional government or research visitors. The airfield has a long history dating back to World War II and the early aviation era, when Canton Island served as a strategic refueling stop for transpacific flights. Today, regular commercial service is extremely limited, and the airport is largely used for charter, government, and emergency flights serving the tiny local population.
Getting to & from
Ground transport options on the island are extremely limited given its tiny, remote population and minimal infrastructure.
Airlines here
No major commercial airlines operate scheduled service to Canton Island Airport; access is primarily via government or charter flights.
Notable facts
  • ›Canton Island served as a key transpacific aviation refueling stop in the late 1930s and 1940s.
  • ›The island was used as a strategic air and naval base during World War II.
  • ›Canton Island is part of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area, one of the world's largest marine protected areas.
  • ›The population of Canton Island is extremely small, typically numbering only a few dozen residents.
  • ›The airport's long runway is a legacy of its wartime and early commercial aviation significance.
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 Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
A remote Pacific atoll airstrip where sky meets endless ocean blue

Canton Island Airport sits on Kanton Atoll, part of the Phoenix Islands in Kiribati, one of the most isolated stretches of land on Earth. Historically significant as a refuelling stop for trans-Pacific aviation in the 1930s and 1940s, the airstrip today sees minimal scheduled traffic and serves primarily administrative and occasional charter purposes. The island's extreme remoteness gives it a character unlike almost any other airport in the world.

Terminals
  • Main Airstrip Facility — A basic single-building facility with minimal amenities, reflecting the island's remote and lightly populated status.
Ground Transport
  • Limited government vehicle transfers arranged in advance
  • Walking is possible for short distances on the atoll
Dining

There are no commercial dining facilities at or near Canton Island Airport. Travellers must arrange all food and supplies independently before arrival, as the island has no tourist infrastructure or restaurants.

Traveller Tips
  • All visits require advance coordination with Kiribati government authorities as the island is a protected area.
  • Bring all necessary supplies including food, water, and medical essentials — resupply options are virtually nonexistent.
  • Weather and sea conditions can cause unpredictable flight disruptions; build significant schedule flexibility into any travel plan.
  • The Phoenix Islands Protected Area surrounding Kanton is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — respect all conservation guidelines.

AI-assisted overview, verified against public sources.

Airlines serving this airport

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Routes

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Canton Island Airport
Encyclopaedia

Canton Island Airport is an airport located on Canton Island, a sparsely populated island in the Phoenix Islands of the Republic of Kiribati. It has a single asphalt runway measuring 6,230 feet (1,900 m) in length. Once a major stop on commercial trans-Pacific airline routes, today the airport is available for emergency use only.

Read full article on Wikipedia