Air Rarotonga

Air Rarotonga is a privately owned company, established in 1978 when operations commenced with a small 5 passenger twin engined Cessna. Since then the fleet has developed and grown to include the pressurized Saab 340 thirty-four passenger regional airliner, and Embraer Bandeirante fifteen passenger turbo-props. More than 70,000 passengers travel between our island destinations each year.

Air Rarotonga pilots and engineers are licensed by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority who regularly performs technical audits on behalf of The Cook Islands Government to confirm the Company’s operating standards.

Scheduled passenger, cargo and charter services operate between nine island destinations within the Cook Islands, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke, Mangaia, Penrhyn, Manihiki and Pukapuka. Since 2007 Air Rarotonga in cooperation with its code share partner Air Tahiti offers weekly flights between Rarotonga and Papeete on Tahiti, French Polynesia.

Scenic flights over the island of Rarotonga operate daily and the airline offers a number of tours to the outlying islands including the popular Aitutaki Day Tour, Aitutaki und Atiu Combo and the Northern Atolls Adventure.

At the Airport

Rarotonga International Airport offers the following facilities : – WiFi Internet access – coin operated Internet Terminals – Bus Stop for the Round the Island Bus – Download the Time Table here – Snack Bars – Banks for Cash Exchange and Departure Tax (open for International Flights only) – ATM – automated and attended Baggage Storage facilities – public Toilets

Baggage Policies

Aitutaki

For flights to Aitutaki the following applies:

Each adult or child fare-paying passenger has a free 20 kg baggage allowance (except last minute fares where the allowance is 16 kgs). Your baggage must be of normal dimensions. We will carry excess baggage only if space and weight permit; excess baggage will be subject to a surcharge. In addition, you may carry onto our aircraft one item of baggage that weighs less than 3.5kg and is able to be stowed under your seat OR in the overhead lockers available on our Saab 340 Aircraft. No baggage allowance for infants.

Southern Group Islands

For flights to Atiu, Mangaia, Mauke and Mitaro the following applies:

Each adult or child fare-paying passenger has a free 16 kg baggage allowance. Your baggage must be of normal dimensions. We will carry excess baggage only if space and weight permit; excess baggage will be subject to a surcharge. In addition, you may carry onto our aircraft one item of baggage that weighs less than 3.5kg and is able to be stowed under your seat. No baggage allowance for infants.

Northern Group Islands

For Flights to Manihiki, Penrhyn and Pukapuka the following applies:

Each adult or child fare-paying passenger has a free 10 kg baggage allowance. Your baggage must be of normal dimensions. We will carry excess baggage only if space and weight permit; excess baggage will be subject to a surcharge. In addition, you may carry onto our aircraft one item of baggage that weighs less than 3.5kg and is able to be stowed under your seat. No baggage allowance for infants.

Papeete, Tahiti

For Flights to Papeete, Tahiti the following applies:

Each adult or child fare-paying passenger has a free 20 kg baggage allowance with a maximum of 3 items. Your baggage must be of normal dimensions. We will carry excess baggage only if space and weight permit; excess baggage will be subject to a surcharge. In addition, you may carry onto our aircraft one item of baggage that weighs less than 3.0 kg, is able to be stowed under your seat or in an overhead locker and has overall dimensions of less than Length + width + height = 150cm (59″); wheel and handle included. No baggage allowance for infants.

Rates

For excess baggage and cargo rates, specialised cargo and dangerous goods please refer to our Cargo Price Sheet

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Fleet

Air Rarotonga was founded in 1978 with a twin engined 5 passenger Cessna 337 operating non-scheduled services and charter mainly around the Southern islands, with the occasional flight to distant Tongareva-Penrhyn. Piston engined aircraft gave way to the first turbo-props when the company introduced the 15 passenger Embraer Bandeirante in 1989 adding two more of the type in subsequent years. Increasing demand on the Aitutaki route saw the introduction of the modern 34 seater Saab 340 Twin Turboprop Regional Airliner in 2000.

The ATR72-500 is the main player of our code share partner Air Tahiti. This modern Aircraft with its slow spinning six bladed scimitar propellers and active and passive noise reduction ensures a smooth and quiet flight to tahiti at nearly jet speed with turboprop economy.