Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands: Your Guide to Interisland Flights

Travellers can fly to six different islands in the Cook Islands from Rarotonga on scheduled domestic flights and to eight different islands via charter flights. Flights from Rarotonga operate daily (including Sunday).

Flight Routes in the Cook Islands

Here’s a quick overview of the flight routes in the Cook Islands, their duration and how many flights there is a day. Note that the number of flights operating per day is a rough indication, as this changes with the demand for flights. Flight frequencies listed are for one-way travel only:

• Rarotonga - Aitutaki - 45-50 minutes - 4-9 flights daily from Monday to Saturday, and 4 flights on Sundays
• Rarotonga - Atiu - 45 minutes - 1 flight every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• Rarotonga - Mangaia - 45 minutes - 1-2 flights every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Rarotonga - Mauke - 50 minutes - 1 flight daily every Monday and Friday
• Rarotonga - Mitiaro - 50 minutes - 1 flight every Monday and Friday
• Rarotonga - Mitiaro (via Mauke) - 90 minutes - 1 flight schedule rotates between Monday and Friday.
• Mauke - Mitiaro - 20 minutes - 1 flight a week on Friday
• Rarotonga - Manihiki - 3 hrs 20 mins - 1 flight every 2 weeks, Tuesday
• Aitutaki - Atiu - 40 minutes - Available in the high season.

For more information on the arrival airport on each island, check out our guide to Airports in the Cook Islands: Where Can You Fly to in the Cook Islands?

Tip About Flying with Air New Zealand

Note that Air Rarotonga partners with Air New Zealand to offer through-ticketing all the way to Aitutaki. This means you can book a single itinerary from international origins directly to Aitutaki, streamlining the travel process.

Learn more about international flights to the Cooks in our guide, Which Airlines Fly Directly to Rarotonga & the Cook Islands?

How do domestic flights work in the Cook Islands? Domestic flights depart from Rarotonga International Airport's domestic terminal, located directly adjacent to the check-in counters.

For domestic flights in the Cook Islands, you are required to check in at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled departure. When you check in, you will receive a ticket, which is simply a receipt with your name, the date and time of your flight, the flight number, and your seat number. Show this to the attendant before crossing the tarmac to your flight.

In some instances, you may be requested to show personal identification, for example, as proof of age for child or infant fares.

If you or anyone you are booking for has special needs, please contact Air Rarotonga to make special arrangements. See more advice in Accessibility in the Cook Islands: Travellers with Disabilities, Wheelchair Access & More.

Refunds and Changes to Domestic Flights

Note that there are different types of fares available, with different terms and conditions for refunds and extra baggage allowance:

• Fully Flexible Fares (Southern Group) - Fully refundable up to 2 hours from flight departure, and no change fee required
• Seat + Bag Fares - Non-refundable and a NZ$50 change fee
• Seat Only Fares - Non-refundable and no baggage allowance can be purchased
• Northern Group Flights - Fully refundable and changes permitted up to 14 days prior to departure.

Baggage Allowance for Flights in the Cook Islands

Your baggage allowance for flights with Air Rarotonga is dependent on what type of ticket you have purchased:

Seat Only Fares Baggage Allowance

• Carry-on bag only with an allowance of 7 kg (15.4 lbs)

Seat + Bag and Fully Flexible Baggage Allowance

• Carry-on bag allowance of 7 kg (15.4 lbs)
• Checked-in bag allowance of 23 kg (50.7 lbs) with dimensions not exceeding 158 cm (62") in linear measurement (width + height + length)
• Excess baggage is NZ$3.50 per additional kilogram.

Oversize Baggage

Oversized baggage and sporting equipment are permitted, subject to space. The maximum weight per piece is 32 kg (71.6 lbs) with a maximum length of 2 m (6.6 ft). Excess baggage rates apply to oversized items.

Northern Cook Islands Baggage Allowance

• Carry-on bag allowance of 3 kg (6.6 lbs)
• Checked-in bag allowance of 10 kg (22 lbs)
• Excess baggage is NZ$7 per additional kilogram.

Tip About Domestic Baggage Allowances in the Cook Islands

In our experience, Air Rarotonga's domestic baggage allowances are quite lenient, allowing multiple bags per passenger without strict enforcement.

Like most places in the world, air travel is expensive in the Cook Islands - even more so than your flight to the Cook Islands, if flying to the Northern Group. Take a look at the list below to see typical prices for domestic flights in the Cook Islands.

Typical Airfares for Domestic Flights in the Cook Islands

The following prices are one-way adult fares for Seat + Bag tickets only. Please note that prices are approximate and subject to change.

• Rarotonga - Aitutaki, Atiu, Mauke or Mitiaro - NZ$250-$300 per person one-way
• Rarotonga - Manihiki - NZ$1,595 per person one-way.

The Cost of Charter Flights in the Cook Islands

An alternative to scheduled flights is charter flights, which are specially curated to your schedule and allow you to access some of the islands that scheduled flights do not serve, such as Penrhyn and Pukapuka. Please note that prices are approximate and subject to change.

• Southern Group one-way charter: NZ$4,500-$5,000
• Northern Group one-way charter: NZ$11,000.

Learn more about chartering a plane in our complete guide, How to Hire a Plane in the Cook Islands: A Guide to Plane Charters.

As an alternative to scheduled flights in the Cook Islands, charter flights and plane tours provide other options for flying between islands.

Charter Flights in the Cook Islands

Air Rarotonga provides charter flights under the company name, Pacific Private Jet and offers four different aircraft for charter flights in the Cook Islands, including a private jet that accommodates up to seven passengers and a 34-passenger plane.

Not only do they fly to all the destinations that scheduled flights fly to, but they also offer a way to reach the lesser-visited Northern Group islands, such as Manihiki, Pukapuka, and Penrhyn.

Air Rarotonga can also organise in-flight catering, ground tours, overnight accommodation and a concierge/tour guide, so you can truly make the experience your own.

Again, find out more about how to charter a flight in our guide, How to Hire a Plane in the Cook Islands: A Guide to Plane Charters.

Plane Tours in the Cook Islands

Aside from scenic flights around Rarotonga, which you can find out more about in The Best Scenic Flights in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands, Air Rarotonga works with Island Hopper Vacations to provide itineraries of the Southern and Northern Groups of the Cook Islands. Plane tours include:

• Southern Group Adventure Package - A tour of the Southern Group’s lesser-visited islands: Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro and Atiu. It includes round-trip flights, two nights on each island, as well as all meals, a tour guide and more. The tour takes place on fixed dates around five times a year, with 11 spots available on each tour.
• Trailblazers of the Northern Atolls - A journey to Pukapuka, Manihiki and Penrhyn over five days, the tour includes round-trip flights, all accommodation, as well as all meals, a tour guide and more. Trips take place on fixed dates, approximately four times a year, accommodating up to a maximum of six people per trip.
• Aitutaki by Private Jet - Fly from Rarotonga to Aitutaki on a private jet for up to seven passengers. The day tour includes a private island tour and lagoon cruise, while the overnight tour also includes a stay at the five-star Pacific Resort Aitutaki.
• Aitutaki Day Tour - Operated by Air Rarotonga, this tour is a complete island package from Rarotonga, including return flights, a six-hour lagoon cruise with The Vaka Cruise and transfers both on Rarotonga and Aitutaki.

Learn more about plane tours in the Cook Islands in the 10 Best Island-Hopping Tours in Rarotonga & the Cook Islands.