Bora Bora Airport occupies Motu Mute, a small islet north of the main island, so every arrival continues by boat. Resorts on the motu send their own boats, timed to your flight; these transfers are usually charged, often about $100–300 per person return, so confirm the price when you book.
The free shuttle boat to Vaitape
Air Tahiti and Air Moana run a free shuttle boat for their passengers between the airport and the dock in Vaitape, the main village, a crossing of about 15 minutes. From Vaitape, take a taxi (agree the fare first) or a hotel pickup to reach guesthouses and hotels on the main island, such as those around Matira.
Booking info
Give your resort your flight number in advance so a boat is waiting at the airport dock.
Does Bora Bora have an airport?
Yes. Bora Bora Airport (airport code BOB; ICAO code NTTB) sits on Motu Mute, a flat islet on the reef north of the main island. There is no road or bridge to the main island, so every passenger finishes the trip by boat. The single paved runway is about 1,500 m (4,940 ft) long and handles Air Tahiti and Air Moana turboprops. There is no scheduled jet service, so international travelers always connect through Papeete. The airport handled about 385,000 passengers in 2023.
Bora Bora airport history: from WWII base to island gateway
The airport dates from World War II. Under Operation Bobcat, the first US ship reached the lagoon on 14 February 1942, and the US set up a fuel and supply base with about 5,000 personnel. US Navy Seabees built the coral airstrip on Motu Mute in 1943. The base closed in June 1946 without ever seeing combat. Some of the coastal guns from that period are still on the island.
After a rebuild, commercial flights began in 1958. Until Tahiti's Faa'a airport opened in the early 1960s, Bora Bora had the only runway in French Polynesia that could take large aircraft. In those years, TAI flights linked Bora Bora with Los Angeles via Honolulu.
Arriving at Bora Bora airport
You step down from the plane onto the tarmac and walk to the small terminal. Collect your checked bags inside, then walk to the airport dock, where resort boats and the airline shuttle wait. Resort boats are marked with the resort's name, so they are easy to find.
Facilities are basic. Air Tahiti lists a snack bar, souvenir shops, a newsagent and toilets. Taxis, local public transport, the Air Tahiti office and car rental agencies (about 100 m from the landing) are across the water in Vaitape.
Bora Bora airport transfers: shuttle boat or resort boat?
- Free airline shuttle to Vaitape (about 15 minutes): included in your Air Tahiti or Air Moana ticket and timed to flights. No booking is needed, but you must show that day's ticket, and the boat can be full. Air Moana's shuttle is for Air Moana passengers only.
- Resort boats: motu resorts run their own boats from the airport dock. Most charge for them, often about $100–300 per person return. The Conrad, for example, charges XPF 18,000 per person for its shared transfer. Send your flight numbers ahead.
- Main-island hotels and guesthouses: take the free shuttle to Vaitape, then a taxi (agree the fare first) or a pickup arranged by your host.
Departing from Bora Bora airport
For Air Tahiti, the shuttle leaves the Vaitape dock 1 hour 30 minutes before each departure, and you drop your checked bags with the airline's agents before you board. If you get to the airport another way, Air Tahiti asks you to arrive 1 hour 30 minutes before takeoff. For Air Moana, the shuttle leaves 1 hour 15 minutes before departure, and check-in in the Leeward Islands closes 20 minutes before the flight. Resort guests usually go straight to the airport by resort boat, so confirm the time with the front desk the day before.
Luggage: standard Air Tahiti fares allow 23 kg (50 lb) checked and 5 kg in the cabin. Air Moana's Light fares include no checked bag. For the view of the lagoon as you take off for Tahiti, sit on the right side. More on the flight itself is on our Papeete to Bora Bora page, and you can find the airport's location on the Bora Bora map.
