Tonga’s domestic MA60 aircraft gifted from China is expected to start flying domestically this month operated by a second carrier named “Royal Tongan Airlines”.

Samiu Vaipulu, the airline's Board Director and former Deputy Prime Minister, said today the aircraft would first service only Vava’u and Ha’apai.

He said other plans are being discussed for a smaller aircraft to service the outer islands of ‘Eua and the two Niuas.

“In three months time we are also planning to start flying regionally using the MA60 aircraft. We have Tongan and foreign pilots ready to fly,” said Samiu.

The new company, which is said to have been set up by a group of shareholders, has an office at the Sanft Building in Nuku’alofa employing more than 10 staff.

In late February this year, the airline signed a contract with the Government of Tonga to lease the MA60.

This was after government took back the aircraft after terminating its lease arrangement with the current sole domestic carrier, Real Tonga.