Lifou Airport (NWWL)
Medium airport · Lifou, Province des îles Loyauté, New Caledonia
Airport data
| Name | Lifou Airport |
|---|---|
| ICAO | NWWL |
| IATA | LIF |
| Elevation | 92 ft (28 m) above mean sea level |
| Coordinates | S 20°46'28" E 167°14'22" -20.77456, 167.23933 |
| Location | Lifou, Province des îles Loyauté, New Caledonia |
| Scheduled service | Yes |
Runways
| Runway | Length | Width | Surface | Lighted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/30 | 3,609 ft (1100 m) | 98 ft | MAC | Yes |
Lifou Airport at a glance
Lifou Airport is a medium airport in Lifou, Province des îles Loyauté, New Caledonia, known to airline systems as LIF. The field elevation of 92 ft (28 m) is the number every arriving pilot dials against QNH — circuit heights and initial approach altitudes at NWWL are all figured from it. The airport handles scheduled commercial service, so expect controlled procedures, published approaches and commercial traffic in the pattern.
The single runway, 12/30, offers 3,609 ft (1100 m) of mac surface, with runway lighting for night operations. Runway numbers give magnetic orientation: runway 12 points roughly 120° magnetic.
For the weather side of planning, the live METAR and TAF page for NWWL shows the current observation decoded line by line — wind on an instrument dial, visibility, cloud layers and the resulting flight rules — refreshed continuously from official sources.
Nearest airports to Lifou Airport
Distances are great-circle, measured from the field reference point — planning distances along airways or roads will run longer.
| Airport | Code | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Tiga Airport | NWWA | 69 km (37 NM) |
| Ouvéa Airport | NWWV | 71 km (38 NM) |
| Maré Airport | NWWR | 114 km (62 NM) |
| La Tontouta International Airport | NWWW | 174 km (94 NM) |
| Nouméa Magenta Airport | NWWM | 183 km (99 NM) |
Flight-planning notes for Lifou Airport
Density altitude is the quiet performance-killer at any field: on a hot day the 92 ft field elevation of Lifou Airport can translate into a substantially higher density altitude, stretching take-off rolls and flattening climb rates — run the numbers rather than trusting the feel of a standard day. Expect published instrument procedures, controlled airspace and clearance requirements; slots and handling may apply to general aviation traffic.
This entry is one of 9 airports and airfields we list for New Caledonia — the country index on the airports hub links the rest. Coordinates above are given in both DMS and decimal degrees so they can go straight into a GPS, a flight planner or a chart plot without conversion.
Where this data comes from
The reference layer behind this page builds on the OurAirports dataset — a public-domain, community-maintained register of the world's airports that many flight planners and apps rely on — with equity records preserved from documented historical listings where the dataset is silent. Figures are carried as published: elevations as surveyed, coordinates as filed, runway dimensions as recorded. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap, and the whole layer regenerates from source on every site build, so corrections upstream arrive here automatically.
Frequently asked questions about Lifou Airport
What is the ICAO code of Lifou Airport?
The ICAO identifier of Lifou Airport is NWWL, and its IATA code is LIF. The ICAO code is the one used in flight plans, METAR reports and aeronautical charts.
How high is Lifou Airport above sea level?
Lifou Airport sits at an elevation of 92 feet (28 metres) above mean sea level. Field elevation is the reference for pattern altitudes and for setting the altimeter on the ground.
Where exactly is Lifou Airport located?
The airport lies at -20.7746, 167.2393 — in Lifou, Province des îles Loyauté, New Caledonia, in the southern hemisphere. The closest listed field is Tiga Airport, about 69 km away.
Does NWWL publish METAR weather reports?
Where the station reports, the current METAR and TAF for NWWL appear on its live weather page on this site, refreshed continuously from the US NWS Aviation Weather Center feed.
How long is the runway at Lifou Airport?
Lifou Airport has one runway. The longest, 12/30, measures 3,609 ft (1100 m) with a MAC surface.