Tonga’s sole domestic carrier Real Tonga is planning to expand its service and fly to neighbouring Pacific Islands starting in June this year.

CEO Tevita Palu said today a long term arrangement was underway to bring in a bigger aircraft that would not only improve their domestic service but fly to other Pacific Islands.

He said more information would be released once the arrangements are finalized.

In the meantime, the airline is expecting a 19-seater Jetstream aircraft to arrive from New Zealand before the end of March.

Tevita expect the aircraft to start flying in April on the domestic service.

The airline currently operates two aircraft, a Jetstream 19-seater and a 17-seater Y-12, after the Tongan Government took back the Chinese gifted MA60 aircraft, when it terminated its lease arrangement with the airline.

“We currently have twice daily flights to Vava’u and Ha’apai with sometimes three to Vava’u depending on demand, and one daily to ‘Eua. It is evident the gap left by the MA60 so the new Jetstream will help improve and assist the domestic service,” said the CEO.

At the same, it was said that the Government of Tonga was in talks with Fiji Airways to provide direct international flights to Vava’u but nothing had been confirmed at this stage.

Fiji Airways flies daily to Tonga on Mondays to Saturdays, except Wednesdays.