Due to a safety issue with the fire services stationed at the Lupepau'u Airport in Vava'u, Tonga,  Fiji Airways has temporarily downgraded its aircraft on the Nadi to Vava'u route from an ATR72 to a smaller ATR 42 aircraft.

Flight FJ295 from Nadi heading to Vava‘u, was turned around on Thursday 4 July 2024, “due to an advisory regarding the downgrading of fire and rescue services at Vava’u Airport to Category 3, preventing us from landing,” a travel alert [2] on Fiji Airways website stated. The return flight FJ274 was also cancelled that day.

Since then, passenger numbers have been significantly reduced on the daily flights, scheduled five days a week, between Fiji and Vava'u. Smaller aircraft are continuing to be scheduled this week as a temporary measure.

Fiji Airways stated that it regretted it was unable to offer seats to accommodate all passengers originally booked to fly to Vava'u last week.

“Due to operational constraints at Vava'u Airport in Tonga, we have had to temporarily downgrade our aircraft on the Nadi to Vava'u route from a larger aircraft to an ATR 42 (a 46-seater).

“This decision has been necessitated by the current limitations of the fire services at Vava'u Airport, which are temporarily only equipped to handle an aircraft of the size of an ATR 42. The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority, and this adjustment ensures we comply with all necessary safety regulations.,” another Travel Alert from Fiji Airways stated on 5 July.

“We are actively engaging with the relevant authorities to resolve this issue as quickly as possible.”

Fiji Airways flight bookings service said today that the 46 seater plane would be used on the route this week.

Fire truck issue

Meanwhile, there has been no announcement or communication to the public from the Tonga Civil Aviation authorities or Tonga Airports Ltd. regarding the fire truck issue at Vava'u, a local resident told Matangi Tonga today.

“I took my friend to the airport on 4 July and the incoming Fiji plane was five minutes out when someone told the plane and ground support that the pump on the fire truck was not working. ...Maybe Tonga knew about it because the white and yellow recently donated truck, which normally is in the fire station in town, was there. The plane turned around and did not land.”

Since then all scheduled Fiji Airways flights had been on the ATR42 aircraft, said the local, who manages tourism bookings.  “This is about 40% fewer passengers. The existing smaller fire truck or trucks are acceptable for the smaller plane but Fiji Airways requires a certain size truck for the ATR 72 to land safely and take off.

“Multiple passengers have been bumped and many have lost their whale watching seats and so on. Add the Star Link disaster and well...! These multiple incidents have been a blow to the tourism industry.”

There is also concern that when the Neiafu fire truck is at the airport for several hours on flight days, the town is vulnerable, said the resident.

Tonga Airports is a wholly owned public enterprise of the Government of Tonga and delivers essential airport services at the six airports throughout Tonga. 

Tonga Airports Limited (TAL) recently announced the appointment [3] of Mr. Edgar Cocker as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 2 July 2024 and is currently seeking to expand its staffing.