It is built on an island (the Polynesian word for which is "motu") located in a lagoon.

Although the airport does not have scheduled passenger airline jet service, larger business jet types such as Bombardier Global Express, Gulfstream V, and Dassault Falcon 900 have used the airfield.

[9] Prior to the opening of the Faa'a International Airport (PPT) in Papeete, Tahiti in 1960, Bora Bora was served by French air carrier Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux (TAI) with Douglas DC-7C propliner service direct to Los Angeles (LAX) via a stop in Honolulu (HNL) and also direct to Nouméa via a stop in Nandi (NAN, now Nadi) with both flights operating once a week.

[10] With the opening of the Papeete Airport, TAI then began flying DC-7C service followed by Douglas DC-8 jet service directly into Papeete, Tahiti with connecting flights between Bora Bora and Papeete being operated by regional French Polynesian air carrier Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire (RAI) with Douglas DC-4 propliners and Short Sandringham "Bermuda" flying boats during the early 1960s.

[11] RAI was then renamed Air Polynésie which continued to operate Douglas DC-4 service into Bora Bora in 1970 before introducing Fokker F27 turboprops on flights to Papeete by the mid-1970s.