Transport in Kiribati

Kiribati has no national railway or railway service. Land transport is concentrated on South Tarawa, where buses and vans with about 18 to 20 seats operate along the main road between Betio and Bonriki. Passengers normally board at designated bus stops, and a bus may signal with its horn or lights when it is full. Passengers commonly call “ikai” when they want to get off. Buses may stop only at designated stops and must not exceed their licensed capacity. No reliable nationwide taxi structure or official national bus-fare schedule is established, so fares should be confirmed locally. South Tarawa’s transport infrastructure includes a rehabilitated 36-kilometre highway, 9.2 kilometres of feeder and access roads, 57 kilometres of footpaths, 36 bus shelters and 114 speed bumps. These facilities support walking and cycling as well as motorised travel. Roads on many outer islands are more limited, often coral-based, and some alternative paths are informal. Bicycles are widely used on outer islands, while motorcycles, trucks and locally arranged transport provide other practical options. Rental cars are available mainly on South Tarawa and Kiritimati. On outer islands, hotels or Island Councils may help arrange motorcycles, bicycles or trucks, with prices set locally. Air and sea transport are essential between islands. Air Kiribati operates scheduled services from Tarawa to 16 outer-island destinations in the Gilbert Islands. In the Line Islands, services connect Kiritimati with Fanning and Washington Islands, and charter flights may also be available. The two international airports are Bonriki on South Tarawa and Cassidy Airport at Banana on Kiritimati. Listed international connections include Fiji Airways through Nadi and Nauru Airlines through Brisbane, Nauru, Suva, Majuro and Koror, as well as the Tarawa–Kiritimati connection. Flight schedules can change with the season and operating conditions, so they should be confirmed before travel. Sea services include the Bairiki Wharf connection to North Tarawa, generally operating daily except Saturday, with published times around noon to 1 p.m. in one direction and around 7 to 8 a.m. in the other. Betio Port services also connect with Abaiang, Maiana and Marakei through providers including Kiribati Seas and Lyke It. These sailings depend on tides and weather. Published adult fares include about $35 to Abaiang, $40 to Maiana and $65 to Marakei; child fares differ by provider. Kiribati National Shipping Line generally provides a monthly Gilbert Group service, while private vessels and charter boats add local capacity. Times and fares are not guaranteed across all islands. The Ministry of Information, Communications and Transport and Tourism Development coordinates the national transport sector. The Kiribati Land Transport Authority handles vehicle and driver licensing. The Airport Kiribati Authority manages the airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati regulates civil aviation, and the Kiribati Ports Authority manages port operations and navigation. The Marine Division handles ship safety, small-boat registration, aids to navigation and boat clearances. Island Councils may organise local land or ferry services. Road users must register vehicles. Registration generally lasts one year for a private vehicle or motorcycle and six months for a bus or commercial vehicle, and a vehicle older than 10 years cannot receive first registration. Drivers need the licence class appropriate to the vehicle. The minimum age is generally 18 for a motorcycle, private vehicle or government vehicle and 25 for a bus or commercial vehicle. Use of a foreign licence is limited to the applicable temporary period, commonly six weeks or no more than three months in a calendar year, after which a local licence is required. A learner permit normally requires supervision by a licensed driver, except for motorcycle learning. The speed limit is 40 km/h in built-up areas, 20 km/h on feeder roads, 30 km/h near churches, schools, bus stops and pedestrian zones, and 60 km/h on other roads. Heavy vehicles over five tonnes are limited to 30 km/h. Seat belts are required for drivers and passengers aged 16 or older, children aged 1 to 16 must use a rear restraint, and motorcycle riders must wear helmets. Drivers may use a phone only with approved hands-free equipment, may not eat or drink while driving, and must give way at pedestrian crossings. Other vehicles may not stop within 20 metres before or 10 metres after a bus stop. The private-vehicle blood-alcohol limit is 0.05 g per 100 ml. Learner, bus and commercial drivers have a 0.00 limit, and the Traffic Act treats kava as a drug for traffic purposes. Refusing a breath or saliva test creates the statutory presumption provided by the law. A penalty unit is listed at $50, although the government may adjust it annually. A penalty notice is payable within 14 days; otherwise the amount doubles. After a crash, the driver must stop and assist and report the accident to the Commissioner within 24 hours. Domestic boat operators need a vessel licence and Marine Clearance before departure. Small boats must be registered and inspected in Betio. Domestic ships are checked about one hour before departure and one hour after arrival. Navigational warnings use VHF channel 16 or HF 6251 kHz, and maritime search and rescue can be contacted through freecall 1050. Sea travel therefore requires attention to clearance, inspection, weather, tides and the marine environment. Roads, ports and runways are exposed to sea-level rise, coastal erosion, storm surge, heavy rain and king tides. South Tarawa’s road rehabilitation includes climate-resilience measures. The Kiritimati Infrastructure Project plans 27 kilometres of roads, improvements to the Cassidy runway and airport, drainage, raised road formations, erosion protection, 52 accessible bus bays and additional walking and cycling space; its 2025 status report said that construction had not yet begun. Better navigation aids and lighting are intended to reduce circling, idling and fuel use in aviation. CORSIA, the international aviation carbon scheme, was voluntary from 2021, while private motorised transport remains dependent on imported vehicles and fuel.