Two repatriation flights are being planned for next month to return around 300 people from Christchurch, New Zealand and Brisbane, Australia, confirmed MEIDECC CEO Paula Ma’u today.
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Friday 11 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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Tuesday 1 September 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Friday 28 August 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An Air New Zealand charter flight that arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport last night picked up Vietnamese and Sri Lankan nationals who had been working on a project in Tonga, confirmed Paul Karalus of Tonga's Air Terminal Services today.
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Friday 21 August 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
Wednesday 15 July 2020
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Nadi, Fiji
Fiji Airways has extended its cancellation of international flights to the end of August, due to border closures and travel restrictions amid CoViD-19, the airline stated yesterday.
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Friday 10 July 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
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Friday 19 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A 'Beautiful Tonga Clean Up' campaign held earlier this year, has today presented new lawnmowers to eight villages who did the best clean up work in Tongatapu.
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Wednesday 17 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
Tuesday 16 June 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tonga’s Ministry of Tourism has confirmed today that government is planning for the first repatriation flight of 50 Tongans “after next week as a start” and that the first passengers will arrive “in three weeks from last Friday, if everything is going as planned”.
Friday 12 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
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.
Tuesday 2 June 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Statistics show a major decrease in international visitors to Tonga between January to March, in comparison to 2019, as CoViD-19 started to spread worldwide and in the months before Tonga closed its border.
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Monday 25 May 2020
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Auckland, New Zealand
Air New Zealand services to Tonga and other Pacific countries such as Fiji, Samoa, Rarotonga, New Caledonia and French Polynesia, could resume to one return service from Auckland per week, if the travel restrictions currently in place around passenger services are lifted, the airline announced today.
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Tuesday 12 May 2020
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Nuku'alofa, 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.
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Tuesday 21 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An Air New Zealand flight bringing medical equipment from Auckland to Tonga on Thursday, 23 April has been approved to leave the Kingdom with passengers confirmed Minister for MEIDECC Hon Poasi Tei today.
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Tuesday 21 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Australian citizens and permanent residents who wish to leave Tonga are being advised by the Australian High Commission (AHC) to register with their office.
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Monday 20 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
International flights to Tonga have been barred up to 12 June according to a diversion order issued by the Ministry of Health CEO Dr Siale ‘Akau’ola. The order is to prevent the introduction, or spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) to Tonga.
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Wednesday 15 April 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
An Air New Zealand flight arrived at Fua'amotu International Airport today with medical supplies from New Zealand. The return flight to Auckland has evacuated passengers from Tonga who will undergo health screening and managed isolation in New Zealand.
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Tuesday 14 April 2020
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Auckland, New Zealand
Samoa, Tonga and Fiji are currently not permitting international flights, but if these restrictions end, Air New Zealand is likely to operate one return service per week from Auckland, the airline stated today.
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Monday 13 April 2020
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongatapu's best beaches along the Sunset Coast, remain deeply embedded with the shrapnel-like remains of resort buildings ravaged by the “unbelievable power” of Severe Tropical Cyclone Harold's storm surge on Thursday.
Tuesday 31 March 2020
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Nuku'alofa, Tonga
A special chartered flight arrived at Fua’amotu International Airport this afternoon, to pick up a group from the National Geographic network.
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