Rarotonga Airport. Photo: Airport Authority Cook Islands
The Cook Islands marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of their international airport on Tuesday.
A grand celebration was hosted on the tarmac in Rarotonga with thousands of Cook Islanders in attendance.
Prime Minister Mark Brown said the opening of the airport in 1974 marked the beginning of a new age of prosperity and development for the island nation.
He acknowledged the vision of the country's first Premiere Albert Henry.
"Our first Premier Albert Henry could see back then, that this airport would open new doors of opportunity for the Cook Islands. It was, as Papa Arapati called it, a stepping stone in our journey to economic self sufficiency," Brown said.
The New Zealand government funded the development the airport and after three years of construction, the runway was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth the second on 29 January 1974.
Brown reflected on how the airport grew the country's economy.
"The construction of our new airport began in 1970. Half a century later, this airport is the lifeline of our economy, an economy that saw our country graduate in 2020, to the OECD standard for a developed nation," he said.
'Exceptional air services'
The chairman of the Cook Islands airport board said Rarotonga international airport has been a major game-changer for the Cook Islands' economic status.
Over three million passengers have travelled into the Cook Islands in the past fifty years.
Board chairman Taoro Brown looks forward to seeing the countries air-service continue to grow over the next 50 years.
"Far reaching effects of our international airport on our economy has helped us succeed in elevating our visitors experiences, customers, facilities and increased passengers," he said.
"Despite the challenges we aim to provide exceptional air services."
Taoro Brown said the airport has significantly grown the realm country's economy over time.
He said it is one of the Cook Islands' biggest assets and he is confident it will continue to support development in the years to come.
Improved connection to outer islands
Meanwhile, the Cook Islands are looking to improve airline services between their outer islands by upgrading existing airports.
The country is made up of 15 islands, 12 of which are inhabited. The furthest islands can take up to five hours to reach via air.
A major upgrade of the Manihiki airport is underway to allow larger, faster planes to land on the remote northern group island.
Prime Minister Brown said this type of investment will be seen across all the pa enua communities.
"Investments for which the return will not be measured simply in numbers or dollars.
"But in the creation of new opportunities, the expanding of horizons and continuing improvements in the standard of living and the well being of our Cook Islands people."
Brown said this will bring the country closer together and enable outer island residents to better access the growing economic opportunities in the Cook Islands.