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Remote gateway to Gaua Island in Vanuatu's Banks group.
Location
Gaua Island, Vanuatu
Gaua Island Airport (IATA: ZGU, ICAO: NVSQ) is a small domestic airport serving Gaua Island, also known as Santa Maria, in the Banks Island group of northern Vanuatu. The airport provides essential air connectivity for local residents and visitors accessing this remote volcanic island in the South Pacific.
The airport operates limited scheduled services and is primarily served by small turboprop aircraft suited to its short gravel or unpaved runway. It plays a critical role in linking Gaua's communities to the rest of Vanuatu, as sea transport remains the main alternative but can be infrequent and weather-dependent.
Terminals
The airport has a basic, single small terminal building typical of remote Vanuatu domestic airstrips with minimal passenger facilities.
Getting to & from
Ground transport from the airport to local villages is limited, with informal road access and walking the primary means of reaching nearby communities.
Airlines here
Air Vanuatu has historically operated domestic services to Gaua, along with smaller regional carriers such as Unity Airlines.
Notable facts
- ›Gaua Island is home to Lake Letas, one of the largest lakes in Vanuatu, and the active Gaua volcano.
- ›The airport serves a remote island population with limited alternative transport links.
- ›The runway is unpaved and suited only to small turboprop or light aircraft operations.
- ›Vanuatu's domestic aviation network relies on numerous small airstrips like Gaua to connect its 80-plus inhabited islands.
- ›Gaua Island is part of the Banks Island group in Torba Province, the northernmost province of Vanuatu.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
