Guide to Hanan Airport, Niue
Niue’s one and only airport goes by many names: Niue International Airport, Alofi International Airport and Hanan International Airport. Either way, it’s the same place taking the same weekly flight/flights from Auckland, New Zealand; one of the very few ways to get to this remote island in the South Pacific. Needless to say, with a limited flight schedule, Hanan Airport is nothing flashy but it provides one of the more unique airport experiences with its open-air waiting area and market stalls! Find out more about the arrival procedures, facilities and services to expect with this complete guide to Alofi Airport, Niue!
Quick Facts About Alofi/Hanan Airport
- Hanan International Airport is the only airport in Niue
- It was opened in December 1970
- The airport is only used by Air New Zealand with its twice-weekly flight from Auckland
- Hanan Airport still works on a manual boarding pass system, which means you will not be able to use the eGates when arriving at Auckland Airport
- Because New Zealand and Niue are on opposite sides of the International Date Line, the Saturday morning flight from Auckland arrives in Niue on Friday afternoon despite being a three-hour flight!
(c) niuepocketguide.comInternational Arrival Process
When you arrive at Hanan International Airport, you will go through the Immigration, Customs and Biosecurity procedures.
Immigration
At Passport Control, you will be required to show your passport and your Niue Passenger Arrival Card. You will not need to show a visa if you are from one of the 40 visa-exempt countries listed in Do You Need a Visa to Visit Niue? and are visiting Niue for up to 30 days with the main reason being to holiday, travel or visit friends and family. Otherwise, you will need to show the appropriate permit to the Immigration Officer.
Baggage Claim
After passing through Passport Control, you will collect your checked bags from the baggage carriages in the Baggage Claim area. There is also a duty-free store here should you want to make any purchases. See The Duty-Free Allowances for Niue to know how much duty-free goods you are allowed to bring into Niue.
Biosecurity and Customs
At Biosecurity and Customs, indicated by a “Quarantine – Customs” sign, you will be given another opportunity to declare any declarable goods. See what goods to declare in What to Declare When Arriving in Niue, as well as more advice in Arrival Advice: Biosecurity and Customs in Niue.
For in-depth advice for the Niue arrival process, see Airport Arrival in Niue – Hanan Airport: Step-by-Step.
(c) niuepocketguide.comHanan Airport Facilities and Services
Plan your travel through Hanan International Airport by checking out the facilities and services found at the airport. Note that facilities and services at Niue Airport are only open on plane days; the schedule can be found in Which Airlines Fly to Niue?
Food and Beverage
On plane days, market stalls are set up alongside the waiting area before you go through airport security. Typical beverages available to buy include hot drinks, such as instant coffee, tea and hot chocolate, and cold drinks like bottled water, soft drinks and drinking coconuts. There is also a vending machine with cold drinks available.
For food, food stalls typically sell hot food, like sausage and chips (fries), punnets of chips (fries) and kebabs, as well as local snacks like cassava or breadfruit chips.
In the Departure Lounge, after passing through airport security, there is the Runway Bar selling beer (some of the cheapest on the island), wine and soft drinks. Food for sale includes hot pies, chips (fries), chocolate bars, mints, chips and other snacks.
Shopping
The Niue Bond Store is Niue’s duty-free outlet, available to purchase goods at the Baggage Claim Area of the arrivals area and in the Departure Lounge after going through airport security for departure. They mostly sell alcohol, as well as occasional fragrances, spa products, snacks and the odd souvenir.
The market next to the outdoor waiting area is where you can browse a small selection of souvenirs, such as jewellery and garlands.
Quarantine Office
In the outdoor waiting area, the Quarantine Office is where you purchase a phytosanitary certificate for all food, animal products, plant material and other goods taken from Niue. It opens on plane days from 9am.
Car Park
Free parking is available at Hanan International Airport.
Toilets
Toilets are available in the outdoor waiting area and Departure Lounge of the airport.
(c) niuepocketguide.comAirport Transfers
There are limited airport transfer options from Hanan International Airport, all of which need to be arranged prior to arrival.
Your airport transfer options include:
- Airport transfers arranged through accommodation providers
- Car rentals offering pick-up/drop-off at the airport
- “The Taxi”, i.e. the island’s one taxi service
Learn more about each transport option in our guide to the Airport Transfer Options in Niue.
(c) niuepocketguide.comInternational Departure Process
With manual airport check-in systems and baggage check-in open and closing well before the departure time for flights, it’s worth noting the departure process for international flights from Niue.
Airport check-in operates from 9am until 12pm. The manual check-in can take a little longer than computerised systems.
Airport security opens at approximately 1pm, where you can proceed to the Departure Lounge for the usual 1.50pm flight to Auckland.
For more information on the departure procedure, see Leaving Niue: The Niue Airport Departure Process.
More About Alofi Airport in Niue
