Airline warns of last minute scramble for Coronation cargo space [1]
Thursday, March 20, 2008 - 22:30. Updated on Wednesday, July 22, 2015 - 16:15.
There is likely to be a last minute scramble for airline seats and cargo space to Tonga at the end of July as visitors for the August 1 Coronation of King George Tupou V try to fit into the scheduled flights, a regional airline operator is predicting.
Air New Zealand, who provides a regular service to Tonga, is scheduling some extra flights, but their Tonga Manager Sue Gardiner says this may not be enough to handle the last minute demand for cargo space and seats for the big event.
"We have to put flights into the schedules now because we do not have aircraft available at short notice," she said yesterday. "But we still have no idea of how much cargo space is going to be required for the food that comes in, and also for the press equipment which is quite heavy, and other items that may be needed."
She said apart from one large European media organization that has already booked cargo space for its television equipment they had not received any cargo reservations from the regional media who are likely to cover the event.
People who want to airfreight goods at that time need to book space now, she said.
She believed that many intending visitors have not yet booked their airline seats.
Tongan passengers typically book their seats a couple of weeks before their flight, and when it comes to July this year it will be too late, Sue said. "There is going to be a last minute scramble for space.
"They are also missing out on the special fares because these are snapped up by New Zealanders who book three to five months in advance."