By Pesi Fonua

Tonga's prime minister is reportedly working on plans for not only a big international airport at Vava'u, but also two inter-island bridges: one in Vava'u to connect Mala Island to Talihau, and another in Tongatapu to connect Patangata to the Eastern Districts

Edgar Cocker, Chief Executive Officer for the Prime Minister's Office said today that they don't know the cost of these big plans.

“We are working on it,” said Edgar. “They are dreams.”

 “Tupou IV also had big dreams.”

The Prime Minister Hon. Rev. Dr Pohiva Tu‘i‘onetoa talked about his dream in a speech he made at Neiafu, on 17 March.

A plan to upgrade the Lupepau‘u Airport was one of three major national development projects he reportedly highlighted in his speech at the launching of a new office building for the Ministry of MEIDECC at Neiafu by HM King Tupou VI on 17 March.

The first of the three projects he mentioned was a plan to upgrade the Vava’u Lupepau’u Airport, including an extension of its runway to 2.701km, to make it one metre longer than the Fua’amotu International Airport on Tongatapu.

He also wanted to upgrade the Lupepau’u Airport international terminal to cater for direct international flights to Vava‘u of 737 airplanes or Airbus from Sydney, Auckland, Honolulu, LA, Fiji, Apia, American Samoa, Tahiti and Papua New Guinea.

The Prime Minister stated that his government planned for Vava‘u to become the center of tourism for Tonga.

The Vava'u Group has 34 islands and used to be a world-renowned centre for water related activities and whale watching, before the COVID-19 border lockdowns. The airport is located 10 km from the main town Neiafu. In the past it has offered limited direct services to Fiji and Samoa.

The prime Minister was reported as saying that the total cost of the airport project was estimated at around USD$120 million and that it would be financed through a “Private Public Partnership” – he described as a partnership between the Government of Tonga, public enterprises, the private sector, the people of Vava‘u, and overseas donors.

The PM mentioned but did not elaborate on the idea for two bridges.

Today Edgar Cocker said these would be a bridge between Talihau and the island of Mala, in Vava‘u; and a bridge between Patangata in Nuku'alofa and the eastern district of Tongatapu.

Meanwhile, there are no immediate plans to re-open Tonga’s borders.