Real Tonga Airlines (Tongatapu) has leased a CV-580 from New Zealand's Air Chathams (3C, Chatham Island) to provide additional capacity on services to Vava'u during the upcoming high season. With its controversial MA-60 now grounded, the carrier says the move was necessary as the first of two recently acquired Jetstream 32s would only enter service next month with the second expected before September.
“We are bringing in the aircraft to provide immediate back-up for our MA-60 services between Tongatapu and Vava‘u. We are seeing high demand on these sectors due to the Church conference as well as the preparations for His Majesty’s birthday celebrations in Vava‘u and our tourism season has begun,” Real Tonga’s Chief Executive, Tevita Palu, told the Matangi Tonga newswire.
New Zealand imposed a travel advisory and withdrew funding to Tonga when it deployed its MA-60 into revenue service last year. Wellington argued that the aircraft had been involved in a significant number of accidents in the past few years and is not certified to fly in New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the United States.
