Domestic airlines decision soon [1]
Tuesday, September 7, 2004 - 17:45. Updated on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - 18:16.
A Supreme Court decision on the future of the two domestic air services currently serving Tonga, FlyNiu Airlines and Peau Vava'u, will be announced by Chief Justice Webster tomorrow, Wednesday.
In a Chamber hearing yesterday, which later proceeded in the open court, Mr Justice Webster heard complaints from the three parties involved in a dispute over a decision by government on August 3 to introduce a one-airline policy, allowing only one airline to have the exclusive right to operate the domestic air service.
The three parties in the dispute are the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Peau Vava'u Airways, and FlyNiu Airlines.
Following the August 3 announcement of a new National Domestic Airline Policy, the two domestic airlines were given until August 15 to apply. Only Peau Vava'u applied while FlyNiu objected and sought a court injunction based on a number of allegations, questioning the legality of the one-airlines policy.
In a fast turn of events, Peau Vava'u was issued with an exclusive licence on August 14 and the FlyNiu was forced to cease operation, until on August 17 the Supreme Court granted FlyNiu an injunction to continue operations until September 15, when its operational licence expire.
During the hearing yesterday, the legal counsel for the Crown were Tevita Havea, David Nielsen and Christopher Gudsell; for Peau Vava'u, Harry Waalkens; and for FlyNiu, William Edwards.
While awaiting tomorrow's decision, the Crown expects a decision for FlyNiu to close its office and cease operation, however the CEO of FlyNiu, 'Atu Finau is optimistic that they will be allowed to continue operation until September 15 with a right to reapply for an extension of their licence.
See also: Tonga racks up another airline headache [2]