Rarotonga International Airport — Avarua, Cook Islands

Rarotonga International Airport, which carries the code RAR, provides the primary air link to the Cook Islands, a self-governing Pacific nation in free association with New Zealand, landing travelers on the main island near the capital Avarua. Its single runway stretches nearly the width of Rarotonga itself, a distinctive feature born of the island's compact, roughly circular shape and limited flat terrain. Air New Zealand operates the principal long-haul connection, linking Rarotonga to Auckland and, seasonally, to Los Angeles, while smaller Air Rarotonga flights fan out to the outer islands of the Cook group. Tourism dominates the local economy, and RAR's arrivals hall often sets the tone for visitors' first encounter with Cook Islands hospitality and music. Given its remote mid-Pacific location, the airport also serves an outsized logistical role, bringing in goods and supplies that would otherwise require lengthy sea voyages to reach the islands.