A group of 64 holiday makers, who were left stranded at Tonga's domestic airport on Wednesday after Tonga Airways flights didn't happen, have managed to find seats with Tonga's domestic air operator Real Tonga - with the last dozen moving on today.

Real Tonga CEO Tevita Palu told Matangi Tonga this evening that nine Real Tonga flights from Tongatapu to northern islands yesterday were "the highest number ever". A further six flights were made today and he expected that the last of the group of 64 were carried.

The group were trying to travel to Vava’u, for their High School Jubilee celebration. They had booked with the new budget carrier Tonga Airways who have been unable to attain a license to operate after the Minister for Civil Aviation Hon. Semisi Sika turned them down.

Tonga Airways was hoping to offer a cheaper option in the domestic market by offering a twice weekly flight from Vava’u to Nuku’alofa on a Fiji Airways chartered aircraft.

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An Auckland woman Bridget James, who had helped fund the group’s trip and has been in contact with them, told New Zealand's 1News she had paid a deposit of $5,000 pa'anga to confirm their seats. But was advised 24 hours later that they wouldn’t be able to fly and was given a refund.

The passengers were then transferred onto Real Tonga to ensure they would get to their destination.

But Ms. James said Real Tonga had overbooked their flights, resulting in her group being stranded for more than two days.

“The airline is working hard to get people on flights to Vava’u but only three to five at a time. By the end of Wednesday most had managed to get on a flight but 23 people were left behind.”

“I spoke to the group this morning and about 13 of them are left sitting under the tree outside the airport waiting for a flight. There are a couple of children amongst the adults,” she said today.

Those left behind had to seek shelter at a local parish as they awaited available seats. Amongst the travelling group were elderly, children and an infant just four months old.

Chairman of the Tonga Airways Samiu Vaipulu, told Matangi Tonga on December 15, that the Minister had supported the competitive service only to refuse to sign their permit a week before the launch.

Related article: Tonga Airways cancels domestic service launch after Minister withholds approval [2]