Tonga Airways cancels domestic service launch after Minister withholds approval [1]
Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 20:02. Updated on Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 20:12.
The new domestic air service of the Tonga Airways that was scheduled to start next week has been cancelled, after it failed to win Ministerial approval, Samiu Vaipulu, Chairman of the Tonga Airways confirmed this afternoon, 15 December.
Tonga Airways had planned to start a twice weekly domestic air service between Vava’u and Tongatapu next Monday, 19 December by chartering a Fiji Airways aircraft.
Samiu, expressed his disappointment with what he considered a turn around by the Minister responsible for Civil Aviation.
He said that after investing more than $600,000 to develop a second domestic air service for Tonga, he had to cancel Tonga Airways charter arrangement with Fiji Airways, and to make arrangements to refund about 200 air tickets sold for their planned services.
Samiu Vaipulu. Hon. Semisi Sika
Samiu said they informed the Ministry of Infrastructure, responsible for Civil Aviation, on Friday, 9 December, of their plan to start their domestic air service on Monday, 19 December.
The Ministry had expressed their support and approval, He understood that a letter of approval would be signed by the Minister responsible, who was away at the northern group of islands, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou.
Samiu said they then went ahead and confirmed their chartering arrangement with the Fiji Airways, to fly twice a week, Monday and Friday for a month.
However, yesterday, 14 December, he was informed that the Minister, Hon. Semisi Sika would not give his approval for Tonga Airways to operate a charter air service between Vava’u and Tongatapu.
Samiu Vaipulu, a former Deputy Prime Minister and currently a member of parliament, was disappointed over what he considered the incapability of government to develop Tonga’s tourism industry. He said that since September Tonga Airways had spent more than $600,000 in trying to get a second domestic air service for Tonga in operation, but so far “we haven’t got government approval.”