France says it will pay for an upgrade of the airstrip on Futuna whose only passenger link is a Twin Otter flight to Wallis, some 240 kilometres away.
The announcement was made by the visiting minister in charge of overseas territories, Christian Estrosi, after meeting king Tuisigave.
The Vele airfield cannot accommodate night flights which affects medical evacuations.
Mr Estrosi says work will begin in January.
