A new 17-seater Y-12 aircraft gifted from the Chinese government to the Tongan government arrived at the Lupepau'u Airport, Vava'u this evening, 5 August. 

Mr Xiong Kai, the Program Manager for the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the manufacturer, said the aircraft would be handed over to HM King Tupou VI by the Chinese Ambassador to Tonga HE Mr Huang Huaguang tomorrow, 6 August. 

Following the official hand over of the aircraft the king will fly on the new Y-12 aircraft to the Niuas to officiate the 2014 Agricultural Shows.

Mr Xiong Kai said that the manufacture of the brand new Y-12 aircraft was completed just last month, before it made its way to Tonga. 

The Y-12 aircraft is the second aircraft to be gifted to Tonga by the Chinese government. The first was the MA60 aircraft that is still servicing the Tongatapu-Vava'u the domestic route, has been operated by Real Tonga Airline.