The airport so remote that only one airline travels there

Lying on a tiny island sits the world’s most remote airport that is so secluded there’s just one airline that runs from it -with a mere three flights a day during peak season.

Set against the backdrop of a stunning South Pacific landscape the next closest airport to Mataveri International Airport, located on Easter Island is in Santiago, Chile, almost 2,400 miles away.

It is only between these two airports that the one known airline, LATAM Airlines, runs its daily flights.

There is one daily flight between the two places, some days the frequency increases to two flights and in high season it can arrive up to three flights a day.

Although the airport of Mangareva in the Gambier Islands is technically closer, it has no direct connection with it. The flight takes over five and a half hours from Santiago.

There are also direct flights once a week to Faa’a International Airport of Papeete in Tahiti (French Polynesia), the only international destination with which it connects. 

Once the plane lands on the long runway of Mataveri Airport in Rapa Nui tourists are welcomed by a series of sculptures carved in volcanic rock, inspired by Rapa Nui mythology.

The runway starts just inland from the island’s southeast coast at Mataveri, and nearly reaches the west coast, almost separating the mountain of Rano Kau from the rest of the island. 

After leaving the airport, tourists are often given necklaces of typical flowers to welcome them to Rapa Nui. Upon departure, a farewell gift of a seashell necklace is offered. 

The airport has a single terminal building that serves all flights here you can also find small shops that sell books, clothes and traditional souvenirs of the island.

In front of the airport, there are several stalls offering souvenirs.