From Matangi Tonga Magazine, Vol. 15, no. 4, January 2001.

Polynesian Airlines has increased its service out of Tonga from two to three flights a week, as from December 2. The new service on Saturdays is a direct flight from Tonga to Sydney in the morning, returning in the evening. Polynesian’s other services out of Tonga include a flight to Wellington on Thursday and to Auckland on Friday.

Polynesian launched its new service to Sydney with its new B737-800 5W-SAM Island of Upolu.

Paul Karalus, the Tonga Manager of Polynesian Airlines, said  that the direct service between Tonga and Sydney, with no stopover, “offers greater capacity for the transporting of cargo, and it should bring a favourable inflow of money for the Royal Tongan Airlines, which is buying seats on that service. The number of seats that will be made available to Royal Tongan will depend largely on their need.” Paul said that the duration of this service would depend on its success.