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Avarua to Papeete Flight Distance

Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) to Faa'a International Airport (PPT)

Short HaulEast-Northeast (71°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

Loading globe...

711
Miles
1,145
Kilometers
618
Nautical miles
1h 51m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,145 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

RAR
Origin
Rarotonga International Airport
Avarua, Cook Islands
-21.2027°, -159.8060°
PPT
Destination
Faa'a International Airport
Papeete, French Polynesia
-17.5537°, -149.6070°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 711 miles, this short-haul flight will take approximately 1h 51m. This is a relatively quick flight where you may not even need entertainment.

Time Adjustment: Papeete is 0 hours ahead of Avarua. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 292 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)711 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,145 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)618 nmAviation standard
Flight Time1h 51mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationSHORT HAULShort-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Flight Direction71° ENEEast-Northeast
Cruising Altitude33,000 ftFL330 (10,058 m)
Time Difference+0hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)292 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)847 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1168 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset27Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger34 L~6,120 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this east-northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 292 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 27 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
RAR
DEPARTURE

Rarotonga International Airport

Avarua, Cook Islands

IATA / ICAO
RAR / NCRG
Elevation
19 ft (6 m)
Local Time
08:50 AM
GMT-10
Coordinates
-21.2027°, -159.8060°
View full airport details
PPT
ARRIVAL+0h from departure

Faa'a International Airport

Papeete, French Polynesia

IATA / ICAO
PPT / NTAA
Elevation
5 ft (2 m)
Local Time
08:50 AM
GMT-10
Coordinates
-17.5537°, -149.6070°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between Avarua and Papeete.

GZ
Air Rarotonga
Cook Islands
VT
Air Tahiti
French Polynesia

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
33,000 ft (10,058 m)
FL330
Flight Direction
East-Northeast
Initial bearing: 71°
Route Type
Short-haul flight (under 1,500 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737Embraer E190
Fuel Consumption
34 L per passenger
~6,120 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Southern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Southern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Western Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
19° 26' 57.9" S
-19.4494°
Longitude
154° 38' 57.2" W
-154.6492°
Halfway Point
356 mi
56 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
292 kg
CO2e: 555 kg
Premium Economy
467 kg
CO2e: 888 kg
Business
847 kg
CO2e: 1609 kg
First Class
1168 kg
CO2e: 2219 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 27 trees.Equivalent to 0.6 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
0 hours
Flying noneward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the right (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Left window for views away from sun glare, right for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
2.9% of Earth's circumference
2
336 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
0.9 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles711 mi
Kilometers1,145 km
Nautical Miles618 nm
Meters1,145,000 m
Feet3,754,080 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)1h 51m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)14 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,145 km between Avarua and Papeete at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h1h 51m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h2h 17m
Bullet Train320 km/h3h 35m
Car (highway)100 km/h11h 27m
Walking5 km/h229h (10 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h0h 56m

Round Trip Summary

1,422
total miles
2,290
total km
3h 42m
total flight time
584
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: PPT to RAR

Quick Facts

Distance711 mi
Flight Time1h 51m
Route Typeshort haul
DirectionENE
AltitudeFL330
Time Diff+0h
CO2 (Economy)292 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Avarua from Papeete?

The flight distance from Rarotonga International Airport (RAR) to Faa'a International Airport (PPT) is 711 miles (1,145 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 1h 51m. This is a short-haul flight typically cruising at 33,000 feet (FL330).

What is the time difference?

Papeete is 0 hours ahead of Avarua.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: Air Rarotonga, Air Tahiti.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 292 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 847 kg. First class: 1168 kg. Offset with ~27 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this East-Northeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Avarua to Papeete instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,145 km, it would take approximately 14 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 1h 51m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This short-haul route is typically served by Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Embraer E190 aircraft. These are narrow-body aircraft designed for efficient short-distance travel.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 292 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 27 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route