Travel to Aitutaki Cook Islands

Travel To Aitutaki by Air

Nearly all tourist travel to Aitutaki is by air. Unfortunately many travel agents overseas book tourist in for 2 days at Aitutaki and 5 in Rarotonga. No activity except going to Church is permitted on Sunday, so half a holiday on Aitutaki can be missing out on the best activities

Air New Zealand fly to Rarotonga and Air Rarotonga fly to Aitutaki. At Christmas, Islanders have booked charter flights from New Zealand. International airlines to the Cook Islands come and go, so keep an eye out on new air services to Rarotonga from international departure cities.

Flights from Hawaii

Hawaiian Airlines flies to Rarotonga on a weekly basis, with flights typically operating on Saturdays from Honolulu and on Sundays from Rarotonga. The airline began nonstop service between Honolulu (HNL) and Rarotonga (RAR) in May 2023. At the time of writing the departure time for the Rarotonga to Honolulu flight (HA496) has been moved to a daytime departure on Sundays.
Honolulu to Rarotonga: The flight (HA495) departs Honolulu on Saturdays and arrives in Rarotonga the same day.
Rarotonga to Honolulu: The flight (HA496) departs Rarotonga on Sundays. Note that this flight's departure time was changed from late at night to early afternoon as of June 15, 2025, and now departs at 1:05 PM, arriving in Honolulu at 7:05 PM. Best to check Flight Radar.

Flights from Australia

A small percentage of travellers arrive at Aitutaki by yacht. Yachts enter the Aitutaki passage and drop anchor near the sandbar, near the Arutanga wharf and wait for Cook Islands Customs / Immigration officers to clear their entry.

A small percentage of travellers arrive at Aitutaki's Arutanga harbour by interisland cargo trading boats.

More information about travel to Aitutaki coming soon.

"Airlines which fly to Aitutaki" "Air Rarotonga" and occasional charter flights.

Click the history link below to see how seaplanes used to fly and land on the Aitutaki lagoon.