The latest domestic airlines news.

Peau Vava'u Airwaves

The 10-seater Islander aircraft of the Peau Vava'u that was scheduled to arrive in Tonga this week, is now expected to arrive during the week-end or early next week, according to the Project Manager of Peasu Vava'u, Mosikaka Moengangongo. The Islander will fly twice a week to Niuafo'ou, Niuatoputapu, and to 'Eua.

At the moment there is no air service to either the two Niuas or to 'Eua, neither the Peau Vava'u DC3 nor the FlyNiu Airline DASH8 can land on the air strips on the islands.

Fly Niu Airlines

After FlyNiu Airline was allowed under a Supreme Court order on August 17 to fly until the expiration of their Foreign Air Operators Licence on September 15, 'Atu Finau the CEO of FlyNiu said that they are pinning their hopes on a Supreme Court decision to be made on September 6. He said hat if the decision will be in their favour it would enable them to apply for an extension of their licence, so that they can continue operations.

With regards to other extension program of FlyNiu, 'Atu said that everything is on hold until September 6.

Airport Terminal Services

When the Airport Terminal Services ATS began operating as the sole company to handle all ground handling work at the Fua'amotu International Airport on August, it ran into a major problems a few days later when 11 package boys went on strike, and demanded a pay rise. When there was no immediate response from ATS they went home.

Soane Patolo, the Manager of the Airport Terminal Services said that following the departure of the strikers they discovered that some of their cargo handling equipment could not work because parts of the equipment were removed.

He said that they complained to the police and parts were returned, and the 11 strikers were fired.

The ATS was a merger between E. M. Jones Ltd. and Teta Tours, and they have recruited their staff from other companies which were handling their own cargo at the airport, such as Air New Zealand, the former Royal Tongan Airlines and Polynesian Airlines.

Soane said that the one-handling company concept was a good idea "the operation has become more effective, we are able to effectively tighten measures on the exact weight of cargo a passenger is entitled to in each flight."