in the vicinity of Mataveri. Once an aircraft flying from South America passes the halfway point between South America and Easter Island, no other aircraft can be closer than its own halfway point until the first aircraft successfully lands on the island. This is because if an aircraft should have an accident that obstructs or closes the runway, the other aircraft would not be able to land, and should have been turned back to its airport of departure. There is a hill adjacent to the eastern end of the runway. Approach and departures from either end of the runway are over the water. Airlines and destinations LATAM Chile operates Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft to the island on its scheduled services. See also Extreme points of Earth Shuttle Down, a 1980 novel by American author G. Harry Stine (Lee Correy), which gives a fictional account of the Space Shuttle Atlantis making an emergency landing at Easter Island following launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Transport in Chile List of airports in Chile References External links Island heritage photos Hanga Roa Airports in Chile Airports in Valparaíso Region Buildings and structures in Easter Island 1967 establishments in Easter Island