Faleolo International Airport

Faleolo International Airport is an airport located 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.Small turboprop aircraft connect American Samoa and Samoa.HistoryFaleolo AirfieldThe site and location of the current airport was originally known as Faleolo Airfield. It was constructed by the United States Navy SeaBees after war broke out in the Pacific in 1942 and became an extension of U.S. Naval Station Tutuila and the Samoa Defense Group Area during the Pacific War. Faleolo Airfield was completed by the Seabees in July 1942 and U.S. Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-111 was moved from Tafuna Airfield to Faleolo Airfield after the aircraft runway was completed to protect the islands of Upolu and Savai'i from an anticipated Japanese invasion. The original runway was 4,000ft x 200ft and was extended to 6,000ft x 350ft in March 1943 to accommodate a taxiway and space for basing of up to 57 fighter aircraft. Airfield support buildings and two hangars were also constructed and completed in March 1943.