Tongan gov't moves ahead with new national carrier project

Tonga's Fly Niu set to acquire Lulutai - report

The Tongan government has given its initial consent to sell state-owned Lulutai Airlines (L8, Tongatapu) to the privately owned, albeit dormant carrier, Fly Niu Airlines (Tongatapu).

According to Kaniva News, the finalisation of the agreement will depend on its review by a newly installed government. If all goes according to plan, the two parties could complete the transaction in early 2022.

However, Matangi Tonga said Interim Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa's decision to offload the national carrier had raised concern over the future of domestic flights within the Tongan archipelago. Lulutai was founded to ensure such services after another privately-owned airline, Real Tonga Airlines (R4, Tongatapu), had failed to do so.

Fly Niu and Peau Vavau (3O, Tongatapu) had operated domestic air services in Tonga until the government introduced its one airline policy in 2004, resulting in Fly Niu losing its permit. The move effectively gave Peau Vava'u, an airline owned by Crown Prince Tupouto’a, a monopoly in the local market before it too collapsed in 2009.

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 (Sweden) 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...

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 (Sweden) 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,...

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