A 37-seat Convair aircraft for the Peau Vava'u Airways is expected to arrive in Tonga this afternoon, April 27.

It will be used to service the Tongatapu-Vava'u route, flying twice daily from Monday to Saturday, said Mosikaka Moengangongo, the Project Manager for Peau Vava'u.

The Convair will be the third propelled aircraft for the airline, in addition to the two DC3s which have been servicing the domestic air route. Mosikaka said that with the Convair servicing the main domestic air route between Tongatapu and Vava'u, the two DC3s would be reserved for servicing the Tongatapu, 'Eua, Ha'apai, Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu routes.

Viliami Ma'ake, Tonga's Director of Civil Aviation, said that with regards to the air safety of the Convair, the Ministry was processing an application by Air Chatham for a Foreign Air Operators License (FAOC) to operate under Peau Vava...’u...’s domestic license.

Viliami said that there would be a test flight of the Convair to Vava...’u on Thursday April 28 with officers from New Zealand Civil Aviation to inspect the safety of the aircraft.

The Convair has been sub leased to Peau Vava'u by Reef Air of New Zealand, which had leased it from its owner, Air Chatham. Air Chatham is based on Chatam Island, an island to the east of the city of Christchurch on the South Island of New Zealand.

It has been reported that the Convair has been used by Air Chatham for the transportation of mainly cargo from the island to the south island of New Zealand. It also has the capability to carry passengers.

With the arrival of the Convair in Tonga, it is anticipated that the service to the two Niuas, which was scheduled to start sometime in February, should begin soon.

Viliami said that the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, which carried out a quality assessment of the two runways of the Mata'aho Airport, Niuatoputapu, and the Lavinia Airport, Niuafo...’ou in January, has given their approval that the two runways have meet the New Zealand Civil Aviation Safety Requirements, and that the two DC3 aircraft of the Peau Vava'u could land there. He said that when Peau Vava'u wants to start their operation to the Niuas, the Mata'aho and the Lavinia airports will be included in their Air Operator Certificate on the number of airports in Tonga they may land.

There have been no regular air services to the Niuas since 17 May 2004, when the Royal Tongan Airlines ceased operation.