Tongan gov't moves ahead with new national carrier project

Tonga's Lulutai Airlines secures AOC, launches

Lulutai Airlines (L8, Tongatapu) began commercial flight operations on Thursday, September 24, a day after the granting of its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) - CAD/AOC/01/20 - by the Tongan Civil Aviation Division.

A government statement said the start-up would connect Tongatapu with Vava'u, Ha'apai, Niuafo'ou, and Niuatoputapu initially using a S340B(Plus) and a Y12. The two aircraft were formerly in service with the privately-owned Real Tonga Airlines (R4, Tongatapu).

Real Tonga Airlines' owner, Tevita Palu, told Matangi Tonga news that he had had to borrow USD600,000 to repair the Saab turboprop after it suffered a serious birdstrike on climb out from Lupepau’u Airport, Vava’u, in May. And although the aircraft has now been repaired, its lessor, Montrose Global, cancelled the Real Tonga contract before placing it with Lulutai. The Y12, which was also used by Real Tonga, is owned by the government as is an MA-60.

Lulutai is wholly-owned by the Tongan government. Its entire staff compliment, Palu claimed, was taken from...

Tonga's Lulutai Airlines confirms late 3Q20 launch

Lulutai Airlines (L8, Tongatapu) is hoping to complete its certification in time for a September 21, 2020 launch on domestic routes, Tongan Chief Secretary Edgar Cocker told public broadcaster Radio & TV Tonga.

The new state-owned airline submitted its certification documents to the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) on June 19 with a deadline of 90 days to complete the process.

In the initial phase of operations, Lulutai Airlines is planning to operate domestic routes within Tonga with one S340B(Plus) and one Y12. The aircraft will be transferred from Real Tonga Airlines (R4, Tongatapu), its defunct privately-owned predecessor. The Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation turboprop is owned by the Government of Tonga, while the Saab aircraft is dry-leased from Montrose Global.

Real Tonga's Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) was suspended indefinitely by the Tongan Director for Civil Aviation on June 15 due to the carrier's financial problems.

The Government of Tonga also owns a MA-60 which will be made available to the new flag carrier. However, the...

Tongan gov't targets mid-3Q20 debut for new nat'l carrier

Tonga extends ban on foreign airlines through late 3Q20

The Government of Tonga has banned all foreign carriers from operating to Tongatapu, the country's sole international gateway, at least through September 12, 2020, to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Tourism announced in its newsletter.

The order affects Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland Int'l), Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi), and Talofa Airways (Apia Faleolo). Flag carrier Real Tonga Airlines (R4, Tongatapu) currently operates only domestic routes between various islands of Tonga.

Meanwhile, the Government of Fiji is planning to include Tonga in its list of countries covered by the Pacific Pathway plan. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said during a media briefing that the government was liaising with its counterparts in Tonga, Tuvalu, and Kiribati to allow their citizens to fly to and from Fiji, where the only WHO-certified COVID-testing facility in the region is. These passengers would still be quarantined for 14 days in Fiji, but could then continue out- or inbound travel to their home countries with COVID-free certificates.

Bainimarama said that...