Mataveri International Airport, International airport and air base in Hanga Roa, Easter Island, Chile.
Mataveri International Airport is an international airport and air base in Hanga Roa on Easter Island, Chile, with a single paved runway. The landing strip runs from the southeast coast almost to the west coast of the island, covering 3,318 meters (10,886 feet).
Regular service from mainland Chile began in 1967 with monthly flights by Douglas DC-6B aircraft that took nine hours to complete the route. The runway was originally prepared for military operations before it opened to civilian air traffic.
The terminal reflects the connection between Chile and rapanui culture, with visitors often meeting locals returning from trips to the mainland. Many travelers use the small airport as their first contact with the island and its Polynesian atmosphere.
LATAM Chile operates flights between the airport and Santiago using Boeing 787 aircraft, with strict regulations allowing only one plane in the vicinity at a time. Visitors should note that the remote location requires special safety protocols and flight schedules are limited.
As the most remote airport in the world, this facility sits 2,336 miles from Santiago, creating special safety requirements for aircraft and crews. The runway was once prepared as an emergency landing site for NASA's Space Shuttle, though it was never used for that purpose.
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