Results for Real Tonga

While Tonga’s only airline, Real Tonga, struggles with the impact of ongoing CoVid-19 restrictions, the private sector company faces another tough challenge, a lack of government support and government's attempts to set up a new airline. Meanwhile, Real Tonga is not flying after the SAAB 340 serving the domestic route, suffered engine problems in a bird strike in Vava’u last week. By Eleanor Gee.

Real Tonga is expanding its international services, which will include flights between Tonga and Fiji to be launched on Monday 29 July.

Over 15 airlines and aviation counterparts from the region and far North of the world are attending a three days regional meeting of the 69th Association of the South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga this week, 10-12 October.

Tonga’s sole domestic carrier Real Tonga will begin collecting domestic taxes to be added to their airfares, starting on 15 May.

A group of 64 holiday makers, who were left stranded at Tonga's domestic airport on Wednesday after Tonga Airways flights didn't happen, have managed to find seats with Tonga's domestic air operator Real Tonga - with the last dozen moving on today.

The Chinese MA60 aircraft that was scheduled to resume its domestic air service earlier this month, remains grounded indefinitely, Tevita Palu the CEO for the Real Tonga domestic airline told Matangi Tonga yesterday, 31 August.

Tourism Tonga has new management staff on board with Mana Kite as Acting General Manager and Seini Taumoepeau as Acting Marketing Manager. The appointments were made by the Tonga Tourism Authority Board.

Although Real Tonga Airline has won a bid last month to operate Government’s MA60 aircraft, gifted from China, its operation will remain on hold until Government completes the aircraft’s certification due process.

Tonga's sole domestic carrier has brought in a new 19-seater BAe Jetstream-32 aircraft from New Zealand, which began servicing Vava'u on Saturday, 6 June, to provide extra capacity for the peak season.