Lonorore Airport

Lonorore Airport
Summary
Airport type Public
Serves southern Pentecost Island, Vanuatu
Elevation AMSL 43 ft / 13 m
Coordinates 15°51′56″S 168°10′19″E / 15.86556°S 168.17194°E / -15.86556; 168.17194Coordinates: 15°51′56″S 168°10′19″E / 15.86556°S 168.17194°E / -15.86556; 168.17194
Map
LNE
Location of airport in Vanuatu
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
900 2,297
Source: [1]

Lonorore Airport (IATA: LNE, ICAO: NVSO) or Lonoror (possibly from Ske lon or or "in the fences") is an airport on south-western Pentecost Island, Vanuatu, 3 km south of Baravet village.

Overview

Lonorore began as a grass airstrip, capable of accommodating 20-seater Twin Otter aircraft in good conditions, although it was frequently unusable due to waterlogging in wet weather. The airport is in the middle of an old coconut plantation, and was first built as a private airstrip in colonial times by the plantation owner. The airport was upgraded in 2008-2009 with a longer, tarmacked runway capable of operating in most weather conditions and being used by larger ATR aircraft, though in practice the airport is still serviced only by Twin Otters, together with Islanders and small charter planes.

Lonorore is used for Air Vanuatu domestic flights to Port Vila and Santo, sometimes via Ambae. Schedules change regularly but there are typically flights on two or three days of the week. Between April and June the airport caters for significant numbers of day trippers from Port Vila who come to watch the weekly land-diving ceremonies.

Near the airport is a small post office (currently defunct) and an aid post. On flight days, women often set up markets near the airport, selling homegrown vegetables and homecooked food.

Lonorore is one of two airports on Pentecost, the other being Sara in the north. Lonorore is a long distance from Sara by road, but is occasionally used an as alternative airport by passengers from northern Pentecost when Sara is closed due to adverse weather or volcanic ashfall, as Sara is more vulnerable to these disruptions than Lonorore.

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Air Vanuatu Port Vila, Santo, Longana
BelAir Santo

References

  1. ↑ Airport information for Lonoror, Pentecost, Vanuatu (NVSO / LNE) at Great Circle Mapper.

Media related to Lonorore Airport at Wikimedia Commons

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