Matangi Tonga, Vol. 18, No. 3

Royal Tongan Airlines 757 holds 166 passenger seats and its Loading Factor average until June 2003 was 90 to 100 passengers per flight.

However it needs 120-140 passengers to achieve its target loading of 60% to 65%.

The RTA load factors for 2003 according to a report by its accountant ...‘Amanaki Paea, were:

January/March 27%

April/June 38%

July/Sept 51%

About three quarters of the people who are flying with Royal Tongan are Tongans.

If the load factors on the Tonga Auckland and Sydney routes were not as high as it is expected, the Auckland/Cook Islands weekly service, which started in November 2003 is reported to be successful with a load factor of 80%. A second service is planned to the Cook Islands for early 2004.

Meanwhile Royal Tongan Airlines is continuing to offer competitive fares to all its destinations, including a new service to Honolulu which started on December 5.