PALAU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

As the stepping stone to Palau, Airai State is located in the southern region of Babeldaob Island, the second largest island in Micronesia.

The Palau International Airport is located in Airai State and only minutes from the Japan-Palau Friendship bridge to Koror, Palau's provisional capitol.

Babeldoab Island's recently completed highway encircles the island on both coasts, and is only a short distance from the airport.

Continental Airlines services daily flights to and from Guam and charter flights from Asian cities frequently arrive in Palau.

 

The airport in Babeldaob was initiated during Palau's Japanese administration.  However, it was bombed in WWII just before it was completed.

In the 1960's, the Americans decided to complete the airport.  They extended the runway and covered the coral gravel with pavement.  Before then, there were only the seaplanes, the SA16, an old propeller plane from the navy that landed in the water.  These would fly to Peleliu and then they came to the seaplane ramp at Meyuns on Ngerekebesang.

The journey to Guam first took several hours by boat to Peleliu, and then people would wait until the next day for the flight.  The SA16's took about 6 to 7 hours to fly to Guam.

Ferry services between Koror and Airai brought cars and people over to Babeldaob until the completion of the first KB bridge in 1977.

Japan-Palau Friendship Bridge

Airai State Government

Home / Airai State General Information / Airai State Government / Contact / Visit Airai / Sitemap / Acknowledgements

©Airai State Government 08/21/2009