The monopoly of the Peau Vava'u Airway on the domestic air service ended on November 1, when the Ministry of Civil Aviation disregarded the monopoly agreement that it signed with the Peau Vava'u in May 2004 and advertised for a second airline to service the domestic airway.

The Director of Civil Aviation, Viliami Ma'ake said that since the Peau Vava...’u Airways failed to fulfill its obligation, including the providing of air services to ...‘Eua, and to Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou, the government decided to advertise for a second domestic air operator. The Peau Vava'u domestic air service licence will not expire until next year.

At the end of September, the Ministry of Civil Aviation gave Peau Vava'u a 30-days moratorium, to fullfill its obligation under the monopoly one-airline policy that was signed last year or it would open up the domestic air service for a second operator.

Viliami said that the Tongan government has opened up the domestic air service for other operators by advertising it to the Tongan public on November 1. He said that under the Government...’s One Air Policy there has always been a provision that clearly said Government could open up the air service for other operators if the provider of the air service does not fully comply with the policy, " and everyone think it...’s a good idea to open it up".

There would not be an opening day for interested applicants, the tender is just advertised to the public and applicants are free to come in and meet Civil Aviation officials if needed, said Viliami.

Applications are to be assessed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation together with a committee that was set up to look at the economic side of the service.

Deadline for the applications for the domestic service close on November 30.