A $1.22 million pa’anga upgrade of Fua’amotu International Airport’s departure lounge and runway was launched by the Acting Prime Minister Hon Siaosi Sovaleni today, Friday 2 October.

Tonga Airports Ltd CEO Viliami Ma’ake said the upgrade funded by the World Bank included the extension of the departure lounge area by 275sq metres, the turning radius of the runway was also expanded.

"These upgrades were required to meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).”

Viliami said the new extended areas will be used for security screening of transit passengers while the expanded runway would allow for the turning of bigger aircrafts.

The airport’s arrival area was initially upgraded before the Coronation celebration in July this year.

Yan Jian Construction carried out the construction work.