New runway lights for the Salote Pilolevu Airport in Ha’apai were turned on and commissioned by the Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku and Australian High Commissioner to Tonga HE Brek Batley on 12 August 2024.

The TOP$1.8 million project was funded by the Australian Government and installed by Tonga Airports Limited in partnership with Australian airport lighting company, Valupa.

“We know that with these lights, the Ha’apai islands will be more accessible no matter the hour, allowing for critical medical evacuations and more opportunities for tourism,” said HE Batley.

“We see aviation as a critical enabler of economic development and growth as well as keeping Tongan families connected.”

Prime Minister Hon. Hu’akavameiliku was thankful to the Australian Government for supporting the project.

“The development of the Ha’apai Airport has been a great challenge in the past, especially with our efforts to make the transportation means more frequent and affordable for the people of Ha’apai.”

“The Australian government’s continued financial assistance and support to the aviation industry of Tonga has been of significant importance in facilitating our effort to provide safe, effective and modern aviation services to enable the people of Ha’apai to travel back and forth, either at day or at night time.”

The first night-time flight departed Ha’apai with the High Commissioner Batley onboard after the ceremony.

The runway lights project began early this year with eighty-four lights installed along the runway. The lights were calibrated and certified in accordance with International Civil Aviation Organisation requirements at the end of July.