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Rarotonga International Airport is the Cook Islands' main international gateway, located in the town and district of Avarua, Rarotonga, 3 km west of the downtown area on the northern coast.
Cook Islands Airport Authority
Rarotonga Airport History
2019
Airport Authority two young women become the first females to join the Airport Rescue Fire Service
2018
Upgraded Instrument Landing System
2017
Rarotonga Car Park upgraded to computerised 24 hour ticketed parking7
2010
June – Upgraded Terminals opened
2009
Upgrade of Rarotonga International Airport Terminals (Arrivals and Departures) started
2006
Rarotonga Domestic and Check-in area extended
2003 – 2004
Sealing Aitutaki runway started and later opened in 2004
1996 – 1997
Aitutaki Terminal construction started and later opened in 1997
1994
Pacific Region Conference of the Airports International Council held in Rarotonga
Publication of “Coming in on a Jet Plane” by Colin Hall – A Pictorial History of the Cook Islands International Airport, Rarotonga, 1944 – 1994
1991
Changes to the terminal
1986
June – Airport Authority was formed
1982
5 November – First Boeing 747 service Auckland to Rarotonga
1974
29 January – Official opening of the Rarotonga International Airport by Queen Elizabeth II
1973
05 September – The first jet aircraft to land at Rarotonga on the completed strip was an Air Pacific BAC 1-11 series 475
1970
11 June – Work on the new international airport started
1969
07 February – Aviation Agreement signed between New Zealand and the Cook Islands
1966
The Royal New Zealand Air Force was again required to provide a service to the Cooks.
1963 – 1966
Polynesian Airlines and TEAL agreement. TEAL purchased all seats between Apia and Rarotonga to enable a service to be provide to Rarotonga
Polynesian Airlines and TEAL operating the NZ – Apia – Rarotonga route
1951 – 1960
TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways) provided Flying Boat service via Laucala, Satapuala, Aitutaki, Bora Bora and Tahiti.
Solent Fly Boats replace New Zealand National Airways Corporation, also operated by Tasman Empire Airlines to Aitutaki.
November – TEAL (Air New Zealand) began the world-famous ‘Coral Route’ using the Aitutaki Lagoon
1947 – 1952
The New Zealand National Airways Corporation take over the regular fortnight service from NZ to Rarotonga with DC3 aircraft
January 1951 – The first DC4 to land on the Rarotonga airstrip was the Trans-Ocean Airlines called the ‘Kansas City Kitty
Also provided service via Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa
1944 – 1945
The New Zealand National Airways Corporation take over the regular fortnight service from NZ to Rarotonga with DC3 aircraft
January 1951 – The first DC4 to land on the Rarotonga airstrip was the Trans-Ocean Airlines called the ‘Kansas City Kitty
Also provided service via Norfolk Island, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa
1943
US Army built Aitutaki airstrip
1942 US Army built Penryhn airstrip
US Army built Penryhn airstrip
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4/5 Generation Fighters 
