Tonga's Lulutai Airlines grounds its sole Saab 340

Lulutai Airlines ferries a Twin Otter to Tonga

Lulutai Airlines (L8, Tongatapu) has ferried a DHC-6-400 to Tonga. As previously reported at ch-aviation, the carrier had recently acquired A3-KLT (msn 929) and sent it to Wagga Wagga for painting and maintenance purposes. On November 10, 2023, the aircraft positioned into Sydney Kingsford Smith ahead of it flying on to Nuku'alofa's Fua'amotu Airport the following day.

"This new aircraft is a much-needed boost to our current fleet and will help us keep families, communities, tourism operators, and businesses connected," Tongan Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni told local media outlets. "There is potential for additional aircraft in the near future."

In addition to A3-KLT, Lulutai Airlines operates one Saab 340B(Plus), and a Y12. The state-owned airline links Fua'amotu with Vava'u and Ha'apai. Speaking to ch-aviation at the recent Association of South Pacific Airlines conference in Brisbane, Lulutai Airlines CEO Poasi Tei said the airline was soon to issue an RFP for an ATR - Avions de Transport Régional type, signalling further growth at the carrier....

Tonga's Lulutai to induct a Twin Otter, moots ATRs

Tonga's Lulutai Airlines resumes flight operations

Nepali MA60s, Y12s to be sold if leasing bid fails

A Nepal Airlines (RA, Kathmandu) spokesperson has said selling five unwanted turboprops is the next best option if a bidding process to lease the planes out fails. Archana Khadka told The Kathmandu Post that per the Nepali Ministry of Finance's instructions, the state-owned airline is now trying to dry lease the planes out but "if there are no takers - we'll go for the second option."

As reported by ch-aviation earlier this week, Nepal Airlines has initiated a bidding process to lease out two MA-60s and three Y12s after sitting parked in a corner of Kathmandu Airport for over two years.

"We followed the Finance Ministry's instructions,” said Khadka. "Out of the two options recommended by the Finance Ministry dry lease or outright sale, Nepal Airlines will try the first one," However, given the state of the planes, some local airline insiders doubt the lease bidding process will attract much interest.

Saying it was the right decision to try to offload the aircraft, Ashok Pokhrel, a former board member of...