FAA grounds Guam's Asia Pacific Airlines

Nauru Airlines set to secure US foreign air carrier permit

Nauru Airlines (ON, Nauru) has tentatively secured a foreign air carrier permit from the US Department of Transportation (DOT), allowing it to operate scheduled passenger and cargo flights between Nauru and Guam International, and Nauru and Honolulu via intermediary points, and the right to operate charter services between Nauru and any point or points in the United States.

In May 2023, Nauru Airlines requested an exemption under 49 USC §40109, and a foreign air carrier permit under 49 USC §41301, 2 to operate scheduled and charter foreign air transportation of persons, property, and mail between Nauru and the US. That application was approved in a decision published on September 21. In 2017, Nauru Airlines applied for, and received, a DOT-issued foreign air carrier permit. However, the airline never exercised those rights and they lapsed.

The approval is for five years and subject to conditions. While the proposed fifth-freedom combination services on the Nauru-Guam (via Tarawa, Majuro, and Pohnpei) and Nauru-Honolulu (via Tarawa, Majuro, and Kiribati) sectors specified in the application...

Nauru Airlines snookers Asia Pacific Airlines' claims

US's Asia Pacific Airlines opposes Nauru's Guam flight bid

Asia Pacific Airlines (Guam) (P9, Guam International) has attacked a US Department of Transportation (DOT) application by Nauru Airlines (ON, Nauru) for an exemption and foreign air carrier permit to operate scheduled and charter flights of persons, property and mail, to US territories in the Central and Western Pacific region. In objecting to the application, Asia Pacific Airlines accuses Nauru Airlines of violating United States Postal Service (USPS) and DOT statutes as well as lacking the "credibility and capacity" to provide the proposed service.

As previously reported by ch-aviation, Nauru Airlines filed its application earlier this month, seeking approval to carry persons, property and mail between Nauru and the United States' outpost of Guam. The airline flagged twice weekly roundtrip cargo flights between Nauru and Guam and one weekly passenger roundtrip. The application came after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded Asia Pacific Airlines over a pilot training issue, leaving several Central and Western Pacific nations and territories without essential freight flights.

"Nauru has operated several charters to move the...

Nauru Airlines eyes Guam, to add B737-800(SF)