[3] Funafuti Airport was built by a Seabee detachment of the 2nd Naval Construction Battalion of the United States Navy in 1943 during World War II.

The next day the Japanese made a predawn raid on the strip at Funafuti that destroyed one B-24 and caused damage to five other planes.

[1] The absence of runway lighting, minimal VHF radio and air navigation equipment means that operations are restricted to daylight hours.

About half of Fongafale islet is reclaimed swamp that contains porous, highly permeable coral blocks that allow the tidal forcing of salt water through the sub-base of the runway.

TvAIP also involved improvements of navigational aids and other safety and security facilities to meet International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) requirements.

[19] The airport is somewhat unusual due to limited space on the island, the runway is used as a common area for sporting and social activities when not in use.

[3] From 21 March 2018 to 21 September 2021, Air Kiribati operated one flight a week to Funafuti, using a Bombardier Dash 8 100 series aircraft, which carried up to 35 passengers.