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Air New Zealand will trial a digital vaccine passport for three weeks starting in April on its Auckland – Sydney route, the airline announced yesterday.

107 passengers were repatriated to Tonga on a chartered flight from Australia this afternoon. A group of seasonal workers also departed Tonga on the same flight.

Air New Zealand is continuing its once weekly return service from Auckland to Tonga to run through to June 30. The renewed schedule includes other Pacific routes on its CoVID-19 international schedule which aims to keep air links open for essential movement.

The Tonga government celebrated the launch of the Lulutai Airlines Ltd, with the handover of an Air Operator Certificate at the Fua’amotu International Airport yesterday, 23 September 2020. Domestic air services were scheduled to start today.

Two repatriation flights are scheduled to arrive at Fua’amotu International Airport tomorrow, Wednesday, from Fiji and Kiribati confirmed Ministry of Health CEO, Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola. Tonga Police and military will cordon off the restricted areas from noon on September 2 until midnight on September 18.

A second repatriation flight planned from Auckland to Tonga on August 25 has been suspended until further notice, Tonga's MEIDECC ministry advised this afternoon, after they were advised that one Tongan in New Zealand had been tested positive.

The first repatriation flight that was expected to arrive in Tonga from Fiji tomorrow afternoon, Saturday July 11, has been postponed until Monday, according to airline sources.

The 50 passengers to board the first repatriation flight from Auckland to Tonga will probably be selected next week, confirmed MEIDECC CEO, Paula Ma’u today, 17 June. “If that goes well, it depends on health and their analysis on whether we will increase the number and even the flights.” Otherwise at that rate, with about 7,000 Tongans overseas who want to return to Tonga, it might take years to repatriate everyone and quarantine will be costly. By Eleanor Gee.

An opportunity for at least 50 Tongans to return home amid the struggle to keep Tonga free from the novel coronavirus, was announced by the Prime Minister, Hon. Dr Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa, this afternoon 12 June.