Beru Airport ( IATA : BEZ , ICAO : NGBR ) is the airport serving Beru Island . The island is located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati .
61-595: The airport is located in the south of the island and is served by Air Kiribati and Coral Sun Airways , each of them featuring a small range of domestic destinations from Beru . Translated from the German Wiki (2 Feb 2009) This article about an Oceanian airport is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Kiribati location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Air Kiribati Air Kiribati (pronounced / ɛər ˈ k ɪr ɪ b æ s / air KIRR -ib-ass )
122-425: A Boeing 737-200 . Aloha was continuing to serve Kiritimati from 2000 to 2003 with 737 jet service to and from Honolulu nonstop. Air Pacific ran flights to Kiritimati until 2008, when they ceased service over concerns about the condition of the runway. Services resumed in 2010. A monthly air freight service is flown using a chartered Boeing 727 from Honolulu operated by Asia Pacific Airlines . Aeon Field
183-410: A camphorweed , which is considered an invasive weed as it overgrows and displaces herbs and grasses. The introduced creeper Tribulus cistoides , despite having also spread conspicuously, is considered to be more beneficial than harmful to the ecosystem , as it provides good nesting sites for some seabirds . More than 35 bird species have been recorded from Kiritimati. As noted above, only
244-569: A climatological research facility on Kiritimati. The Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT), based on Tarawa, opened a campus on Kiritimati in June 2019. Most of the atoll's food supplies have to be imported. Potable water can be in short supply, especially around November in La Niña years. A large and modern jetty , handling some cargo, was built by the Japanese at London. Marine fish provide
305-492: A 2.5 days transition training with no flight simulator time needed to be able to fly the E190-E2. Air Kiribati acting CEO Danial Rochford previously pointed out that "the type's increased range deemed it a "perfect choice" for the carrier." Acting CEO Danial Rochford says that the E190-E2 will offer “opportunities to fly from Australia and New Zealand direct to Kiribati”. The E190-E2 is able to operate every required route in
366-686: A French priest who leased the island from 1917 to 1939, and planted some 500,000 coconut trees there. He lived in his Paris house (now only small ruins) located at Benson Point , across the Burgle Channel from Londres at Bridges Point (today London ) where he established the port. He gave the name of Poland to a village where Stanisław (Stanislaus) Pełczyński, his Polish plantation manager then lived. Joe English, of Medford, Massachusetts, Rougier's plantation manager from 1915 to 1919, named Joe's Hill (some 12 metres; 39 feet high) after himself. English and two teenagers were marooned on
427-472: A lack of use. As such, some researchers have suggested that Kiritimati was used intermittently (likely by people from Tabuaeran to the north) as a place to gather resources such as birds and turtles in a similar fashion to the ethnographically documented use of the five central atolls of the Caroline Islands . Archaeological sites on the island are concentrated along the east (windward) side of
488-455: A large portion of the island's nutrition, although overfishing has caused a drastic decrease in the populations of large, predatory fish over the last several years. Exports of the atoll are mainly copra (dried coconut pulp); the state-owned coconut plantation covers about 51 square kilometres (20 sq mi). In addition aquarium fish and seaweed are exported. A 1970s project to commercially breed Artemia salina brine shrimp in
549-606: A new CEO, after position vacant, since August 2021. The position is currently only open to Kiribati nationals. The Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati known as a Civil Aviation Division is one of the Governmental divisions under the Ministry of Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) and is responsible for all Aviation activities in the country. The primary aviation legislation used are: The actual regulations used are primarily from New Zealand,
610-531: A range of 2,850 nautical miles, the E190-E2 can operate throughout the country with non-stop routes." However, the first of 2 Embraer E190-E2's wasn't taken up and never entered passenger service, eventually ended up with the operator, Pionair Australia . In December 2007, the Kiribati Government approved a request by Air Kiribati to purchase two Canadian -made Twin Otter aircraft. Each plane
671-400: A total combined area of about 168 km (65 sq mi). Thus, the land and lagoon areas can only be given approximately, as no firm boundary exists between the main island body and the salt flats. Kiritimati is a raised coral atoll with about 312.38 km (120.61 sq mi) land area surrounding a lagoon area of roughly the same size. Kiritimati has the largest land area in
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#1732791786713732-444: Is a wildlife sanctuary ; access to five particularly sensitive areas is restricted. Kiritimati was initially inhabited by Polynesian people. Radiometric dating from sites on the island place the period of human use between 1250 and 1450 AD. Permanent human settlement on Kiritimati likely never occurred. Stratigraphic layers excavated in fire pits show alternating bands of charcoal indicating heavy use and local soil indicating
793-516: Is a Japanese JAXA satellite tracking station. The abandoned Aeon Field had at one time been proposed for reuse by the Japanese for their now-canceled HOPE-X space shuttle project. Kiritimati is also located fairly close to the Sea Launch satellite launching spot at 0° N 154° W, about 370 kilometres (200 nmi ) to the east in international waters. Kiritimati's roughly 328 km (127 sq mi) lagoon area opens to
854-459: Is a raised atoll, and although it does occasionally receive plenty of precipitation , little is retained given the porous carbonate rock , the thin soil , and the absence of dense vegetation cover on much of the island, while evaporation is constantly high. Consequently, Kiritimati is one of the rather few places close to the Equator which have an effectively arid climate. The temperature
915-847: Is an abandoned airport, constructed before the British nuclear tests. It is located on the southeastern peninsula. The islands' remote location in the Central Pacific has meant that communications with the world has always been challenging. As of October 2023 all calls and data rely on satellite connection only with very slow internet connection. In July 2022 The Southern Cross NEXT 15,857 km submarine cable system, entered service, connecting Los Angeles and Sydney with dedicated 377 kilometers (one fiber pair) branch to Tabwakea, Kiritimati. Cable landing station located in Tabwakea, owned by Bwebwerikinet Limited. As of October 2023 landing station
976-538: Is constantly between 24 and 30 °C (75 and 86 °F) with more diurnal temperature variation than seasonal variation. Easterly trade winds predominate. At the first census done in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony in 1931, there were only 38 inhabitants on the island, most of them workers of the Emmanuel Rougier [ fr ] Company. After WWII in 1947 there were 52 inhabitants. After
1037-554: Is expected to fly to Tabiteuea North, pick up passengers from the Southern Gilbert Islands who will be flown to Tabiteuea North via Air Kiribati’s smaller aircraft stationed on the island to pick passengers from the Southern Gilberts and vice versa. The aircraft is no longer in service. ATR 72 On 29 May 2002, Air Kiribati received an ATR 72-202 , leased from ATRiam Capital. Air Kiribati operated
1098-416: Is mainly open coconut palm ( Cocos nucifera ) plantation. There are three small woods of catchbird trees ( Pisonia grandis ), at Southeast Point, Northwest Point, and on Motu Tabu. The latter was planted there in recent times. About 50 introduced plant species are found on Kiritimati; as most are plentiful around settlements, former military sites and roads, it seems that these only became established in
1159-497: Is most commonly found a short distance from the sea- or lagoon-shore. In some places near the seashore, a low vegetation dominated by Polynesian heliotrope ( Heliotropium anomalum ), yellow purslane ( Portulaca lutea ) and common purslane ( P. oleracea ) is found. In the south and on the sandier parts, Sida fallax , also growing up to 2 m tall, is abundant. On the southeastern peninsula, S. fallax grows more stunted, and Polynesian heliotrope, yellow and common purslane as well as
1220-486: Is part of the atoll proper but unconnected to the Kiritimati mainland. It is a sand/coral island of 19 ha (47 acres), divides Burgle Channel into the northern and the southern entrance, and has a large seabird colony. Islets ( motu s) in the lagoon include Motu Tabu (3.5 ha or 8.6 acres) with its Pisonia forest and the shrub-covered Motu Upua (also called Motu Upou or Motu Upoa, 19 ha or 47 acres) at
1281-646: Is reported to cost US$ 3.3 million, but Air Kiribati's previous CEO Baraniko Baaro reports the purchase is a wise move which will save money currently used for the frequent repairs the aging air fleet requires. In addition, the new planes boast higher fuel efficiency, have room for more passengers and cargo and require less runway length than the current fleet, which may be of benefit on the airstrips of Kiribati's outer islands. Air Kiribati has received its first new Dash 8 100 series aircraft, which touched down at Bonriki International Airport from Canada on 31 October 2017. Tarataake Teannaki (a previous CEO) said "The Dash 8
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#17327917867131342-532: Is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kiribati and operates scheduled passenger services to 20 atolls spread over an area of 3.5 million square kilometres (1,400,000 sq mi). It is headquartered at Bonriki International Airport on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands . Regional charter flights, medical evacuation, as well as search and rescue services are also undertaken by
1403-588: The Minister for Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD). Air Kiribati is 100% owned by the Government of Kiribati . On 31 July Kobebe Taitai was appointed as acting CEO. In February 2020 Captain Philip Statham became CEO after Tarataake Teannaki moved to become Secretary for Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development. Air Kiribati is looking for
1464-419: The bokikokiko ( Acrocephalus aequinoctialis ), perhaps a few Rimitara lorikeets ( Vini kuhlii ) – if any remain at all – and the occasional eastern reef egret ( Egretta sacra ) make up the entire landbird fauna. About 1,000 adult bokikokikos are to be found at any date, but mainly in mixed grass/shrubland away from the settlements. On the other hand, seabirds are plentiful on Kiritimati, and make up
1525-443: The bokikokiko ( Acrocephalus aequinoctialis ). The 1957 attempt to introduce the endangered Rimitara lorikeet ( Vini kuhlii ) has largely failed; a few birds seem to linger on, but the lack of abundant coconut palm forest, on which this tiny parrot depends, makes Kiritimati a suboptimal habitat for this species . The natural vegetation on Kiritimati consists mostly of low shrubland and grassland . What little woodland exists
1586-435: The spiderling Boerhavia repens , the parasitic vine Cassytha filiformis , and Pacific Island thintail ( Lepturus repens ) supplement it. The last species dominates in the coastal grasslands. The wetter parts of the lagoon shore are often covered by abundant growth of shoreline purslane ( Sesuvium portulacastrum ). Perhaps the most destructive of the recently introduced plants is sweetscent ( Pluchea odorata ),
1647-658: The 180th meridian, the Republic of Kiribati realigned the International Date Line in 1995, placing Kiritimati to the west of the dateline. Nuclear tests were conducted on and around Kiritimati by the United Kingdom in the late 1950s, and by the United States in 1962 . During these tests, the island was not evacuated, exposing the i-Kiribati residents and the British, New Zealand, and Fijian servicemen to nuclear radiation. The entire island
1708-433: The 20th century. Beach naupaka ( Scaevola taccada ) is the most common shrub on Kiritimati; beach naupaka scrub dominates the vegetation on much of the island, either as pure stands or interspersed with tree heliotrope ( Heliotropium foertherianum ) and bay cedar ( Suriana maritima ). The latter species is dominant on the drier parts of the lagoon flats where it grows up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. Tree heliotrope
1769-556: The Air Kiribati network when it receives ETOPS 120 minutes certification and also allow the airline to operate longer-haul domestic and international routes including connections that had so far been beyond the reach of its current fleet of turboprops. The Kiribati Transport Minister stated: "non-stop operations between the capital Tarawa and Kiritmati (Christmas) island [ sic ] currently requires an international stop in Fiji. With
1830-508: The British Government granted a 99-year lease on the island to Levers Pacific Plantations . The company planted 72,863 coconut palms on the island and introduced silver-lipped pearl oysters into the lagoon. The settlement didn't endure: Extreme drought killed 75% of the coconut palms, and the island was abandoned from 1905 to 1912. Many of the toponyms in the island date to Father Emmanuel Rougier [ fr ] ,
1891-582: The Line and Phoenix islands. Poland hosts a Catholic church, dedicated under the auspices of Saint Stanislaus . Banana is near Cassidy International Airport but may be relocated closer to London to prevent groundwater contamination. Paris is an abandoned village and is no longer listed in census reports. There is a primary school in Poland and two high schools on the road between Tabwakea and Banana; one Catholic , and one Protestant . The University of Hawaii has
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1952-708: The NZCARs. As of 2022, Air Kiribati serves these destinations: As of January 2024, the Air Kiribati fleet consists of the following aircraft: Operated by Pionair Australia , but operating flights in Australia under Pionair's name & livery. Air Kiribati has only operated one flight under their own name (Brisbane-Honiara-Tarawa and return), made without commercial passengers. (updated in January 2024). Air Kiribati's official website, does not currently list E190 aircraft on its fleet information section. In December 2019,
2013-498: The Northern Hemisphere's winter season and there are interests developing to service these recreational tourists. There is some tourism-related infrastructure, such as a small hotel, rental facilities, and food services. In the early 1950s, Wernher von Braun proposed using this island as a launch site for crewed spacecraft, based on its proximity to the equator, and the generally empty ocean down-range (east). There
2074-614: The Spanish maps) and some other islands had never been considered part of the Carolines, supported by the charts and maps of the time. Despite having sought acknowledgement of the issue regarding interpretation of the treaty, no Spanish government has made any attempt to assert sovereignty over Kiritimati, and the case remains a historical curiosity. During the Cold War Kiritimati was used for nuclear weapons testing by
2135-619: The UK's Ministry of Defence stated in 2018 that "the National Radiological Protection Board has carried out three large studies of nuclear test veterans and found no valid evidence to link participation in these tests to ill health." The United States also conducted 22 successful nuclear detonations over the island as part of Operation Dominic in 1962. Some toponyms (like Banana and Main Camp ) come from
2196-702: The United Kingdom and the US. The United Kingdom conducted its first hydrogen bomb test series, Grapple 1–3 , at Malden Island from 15 May to 19 June 1957 and used Kiritimati as the operation's main base. On 8 November 1957, the first H-bomb was detonated over the southeastern tip of Kiritimati in the Grapple X test. Subsequent tests in 1958 ( Grapple Y and Z ) also took place above or near Kiritimati. The United Kingdom detonated some 5 megatonnes of TNT (21 PJ) of nuclear payload near and 1.8 megatonnes of TNT (7.5 PJ) directly above Kiritimati in 1957–1958, while
2257-586: The aircraft until March 2004, when it was returned to ATRiam Capital. Kiritimati Kiritimati ( Gilbertese pronunciation: [kiˈrɪsmæs] , also known as Christmas Island ) is a Pacific Ocean atoll in the northern Line Islands . It is part of the Republic of Kiribati . The name is derived from the English word "Christmas" written in Gilbertese according to its phonology , in which
2318-467: The airline. Air Kiribati was first established as Air Tungaru in 1977. The airline served all 16 domestic airports in Kiribati as well as Honolulu and Papeete with a Boeing 727 . In 1996 Air Tungaru ceased operations and Air Kiribati was established to mainly service domestic points in Kiribati with a slew of smaller regional airliners. In 2002 the airlines first ATR 72–500 entered service, but
2379-412: The combination ti is pronounced /s/. Kiritimati is one of the world's largest atolls in terms of land area, consisting of about 312.38 km (120.61 sq mi) land area and a 328 km (127 sq mi) network of lagoons ;. The atoll is about 150 km (93 mi) in perimeter, while the lagoon shoreline extends for over 48 km (30 mi). Kiritimati comprises over 70% of
2440-518: The early 2000s. Kiritimati has three representatives in the Maneaba ni Maungatabu . There are five main villages on the island, four populated and one abandoned; Banana, Tabwakea, Paris, and London, which are located along the main road on the northern tip of the island, and Poland, which is across the main lagoon to the South.: London is the main village and hosts the port facility, and the ministry of
2501-504: The first Embraer E190-E2 , in Air Kiribati livery , was delivered to the airline. The E190-E2 has been certified and registered to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) since the beginning of 2020. The Embraer E190-E2 has a maximum range of 5,278 kilometres (3,280 mi; 2,850 nmi). It retains cockpit commonality with its predecessor - E190. E190 pilots will only require
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2562-506: The flats and ponds can dry up such as in late 1978. On the other hand, in some exceptionally wet years abundant downpours in March–April may result in a total annual precipitation of over 2,500 mm (98 in). Kiritimati is thus affected by regular, severe droughts. They are exacerbated by its geological structure; climatically "dry" Pacific islands are more typically located in the " desert belt" at about 30°N or S latitude . Kiritimati
2623-663: The island and known sites represent a series of habitation sites, marae , and supporting structures such as canoe storage sheds and navigational aids. The atoll was then discovered by Europeans with the Spanish expedition of Hernando de Grijalva [ fr ] in 1537, that charted it as Acea . This discovery was referred by a contemporary, the Portuguese António Galvão , governor of Ternate , in his book Tratado dos Descubrimientos of 1563. During his third voyage , Captain James Cook visited
2684-526: The island for a year and a half (1917–1919) as transport had stopped due to the Spanish flu breaking out in Tahiti and around the world. English was later rescued by British admiral John Jellicoe . English, thinking that the rescue ship was German and the war was still in effect, pulled his revolver on the admiral Jellicoe, causing a short standoff until some explanation defused the situation. Kiritimati
2745-610: The island on Christmas Eve (24 December) 1777 and the island was put on a map in 1781 as île des Tortues (Turtles Island) by Tobias Conrad Lotter [ de ] in Augsburg . Whaling vessels visited the island from at least 1822. and it was claimed by the United States under the Guano Islands Act of 1856, though little actual mining of guano took place. Permanent settlement started in 1882, mainly by workers in coconut plantations and fishermen. In 1902,
2806-765: The limits of Spanish sovereignty in South Micronesia , being formed by the Equator and 11°N Latitude and by 133° and 164° Longitude. In 1899, Spain sold the Marianas, Carolines, and Palau to Germany after its defeat in 1898 in the Spanish–American War . However Emilio Pastor Santos, a researcher of the Spanish National Research Council , claimed in 1948 that there was historical basis to argue that Kiritimati ("Acea" on
2867-452: The northern side, and Ngaontetaake (2.7 ha or 7 acres) at the eastern side. Joe's Hill (originally La colline de Joe ) on the north coast of the south-eastern peninsula , southeast of Artemia Corners, is the highest point on the atoll, at about 13 m (43 ft) ASL . On the northwestern peninsula for example, the land rises only to some 7 m (23 ft), which is still considerable for an atoll. Due to its isolation in
2928-506: The nuclear testing period, during which at times over 4,000 servicemen were present. By 1969, military interest in Kiritimati had ended and the facilities were mostly dismantled. However, some communications, transport, and logistics facilities were converted for civilian use, which Kiritimati uses to serve as the administrative centre for the Line Islands. The island's population increased from about 2,000 in 1989 to about 5,000 in
2989-510: The nuclear tests, in 1963, this had increased to 477, reducing to 367 by 1967 but increasing again to 674 in 1973, 1,265 in 1978, 1,737 in the 1985 census, 2,537 in 1990, 3,225 in 1995, 3,431 in 2000, 5,115 in 2005, 5,586 in 2010 and 6,456 in 2015. This was the fastest population growth in Kiribati. The flora and the fauna consist of taxa adapted to drought. Terrestrial fauna is scant; there are no truly native land mammals and only one native land bird – Kiribati's endemic reed-warbler ,
3050-618: The salt ponds was abandoned in 1978. In recent years there have been attempts to explore the viability of live crayfish and chilled fish exports and salt production. Cassidy International Airport (CXI) is located just north of Banana and North East Point. It has a paved runway with a length of 6,900 feet (2,103 m) and was for some time the only airport in Kiribati to serve the Americas, via an Air Pacific (now Fiji Airways ) flight to Honolulu , Hawaii. Te Mauri Travel no longer offers weekly charter flights from Honolulu. Air Tungaru
3111-497: The sea in the northwest; Burgle Channel (the entrance to the lagoon) is divided into the northern Cook Island Passage and the southern South Passage . The southeastern part of the lagoon area is partially desiccated. The lagoon area currently consists of a 160 km (62 sq mi) main lagoon at Burgle Channel. Southeast of this, the lagoon gradually transitions into a network of subsidiary lagoons, tidal flats , partially hypersaline brine ponds and salt pans which have
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#17327917867133172-504: The total land area of Kiribati, a country encompassing 33 Pacific atolls and islands. It lies 232 km (144 mi) north of the equator , 2,160 km (1,340 mi) south of Honolulu , and 5,360 km (3,330 mi) from San Francisco . Kiritimati is in the world's furthest forward time zone, UTC+14 , and is therefore one of the first inhabited places on Earth to experience New Year's Day (see also Caroline Atoll , Kiribati). Although it lies 2,460 km (1,530 mi) east of
3233-714: The total yield of weapons tested by the United States in the vicinity of the island between 25 April and 11 July 1962 was 24 megatonnes of TNT (100 PJ). During the British Grapple X test, yield was stronger than expected, resulting in the blast demolishing buildings and infrastructure. Islanders were usually not evacuated during the nuclear weapons testing, and data on the environmental and public health impact of these tests remains contested. Servicemen believe that cancer and genetic damage were consequences of their occupational exposure and have sought apologies and compensation without success. A spokesperson for
3294-573: The vast Pacific Ocean, Joe's Hill is the 33rd most topographically isolated summit on Earth. Vaskess Bay is a large bay which extends along the southwest coast of Kiritimati Island. Despite its proximity to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) , Kiritimati is located in an equatorial dry zone and rainfall is rather low except during El Niño years; 873 mm (34.4 in) on average per year, in some years it can be as little as 177 mm (7.0 in) and much of
3355-404: The world amongst atolls that contain a lagoon, and the third largest land area overall, after Lifou Island and Rennell Island . Kiritimati is often cited as being the world's largest atoll by land area, however, because Lifou Island and Rennell Island do not have lagoons and therefore end up being overlooked as atolls. In addition to the main island, there are several smaller ones. Cook Island
3416-502: Was built, but still not commissioned. Apart from Australia and US, the cable will also provide direct low latency connection to Fiji, New Zealand and Tokelau. There is a small amount of tourism, mainly associated with anglers interested in lagoon fishing (for bonefish in particular) or offshore fishing. Week-long ecotourism packages during which some of the normally closed areas can be visited are also available. In recent years, surfers have discovered that there are good waves during
3477-570: Was constructed at this time to supply the Air Force weather station and communications center. The airstrip also provided rest and refuelling facilities for planes travelling between Hawaii and the South Pacific. The 1947 census listed only 47 inhabitants on the island. The U.S. Guano Islands Act claim was formally ceded by the Treaty of Tarawa between the U.S. and Kiribati. The treaty
3538-582: Was occupied by the Allies in World War II with the U.S. in control of the island garrison. The atoll was important to hold, since Japanese occupation would allow interdiction of the Hawaii-to-Australia supply route. For the first few months there were next to no recreational facilities on the island, and the men amused themselves by shooting sharks in the lagoon. The island's first airstrip
3599-467: Was retired in 2004. In 2016, Air Kiribati also commenced domestic operations in the Line Islands , servicing both Washington and Fanning islands from Kiritimati . In 2017 Air Kiribati's first De Havilland Canada Dash 8-106 was delivered and in 2019 the first of two Embraer E190-E2s was delivered to Air Kiribati. Air Kiribati is governed by a board which directly reports to Tekeeua Tarati ,
3660-409: Was serving Kiritimati in 1981 with nonstop Boeing 727-100 jet flights to Honolulu (HNL), Papeete, Tahiti (PPT) and Tarawa (TRW) with each service operating once a week with the service to Papeete being operated in association with Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA), a French airline. Aloha Airlines introduced its weekly nonstop jet service between Honolulu and the island in 1986 operated with
3721-528: Was signed in 1979 and ratified in 1983. During the dispute over the Caroline Islands between Germany and Spain in 1885 which was arbitrated by Pope Leo XIII , the sovereignty of Spain over the Caroline and Palau islands as part of the Spanish East Indies was analysed by a commission of cardinals and confirmed by an agreement signed on 17 December 1885. Its Article 2 specifies
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