Real Tonga Airlines

Tevita Palu said the first flight will be on 12 February from Tongatapu to Apia's Faleolo Airport via Tonga's northern island group of Vava'u.

He said currently travellers have to transit via Fiji or Auckland which usually involves the cost of an overnight stay and can take over a day and a half.

He said the direct flights, which are scheduled for twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, will be a huge saving.

The airline's owner Tevita Palu said it will fly its SAAB 340 which seats thirty passengers from Tongatapu to Faleolo Airport outside Apia, via Vavau, in Tonga's northern island group.

Real Tonga Airlines has signed a codeshare agreement with Samoa Airways so the two airlines can share the same flight.

Tevita Palu said he was looking forward to working hand in hand with Samoa Airways, to develop direct air transportation between the two nations and to support tourism growth in the region.

The Airline is currently completing final license requirements in Samoa and will commence operations with two (2) flights per week. 

All flights are to be operated from Fua’amotu Domestic Airport to Faleolo International Airport in Samoa, via Salote Lupepau’u International Airport, Vava’u 

REAL Tonga will be utilising the SAAB 340 for our regional flights, which will be offering up to thirty (30) passenger seats and a full meal service. 

Real Tonga Airline is on the verge of signing an agreement with government to service the route three times a week, says Polynesian Airlines General Manager Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala.

Real Tonga Airlines plans to use one of its 34-seater planes from the northern island of Vavau - which is closer to Samoa than Tonga's main islands. And test flights have proven successful, according to a statement from Samoa Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Real Tonga Airlines plans to use one of its 34-seater planes from the northern island of Vava'u - which is closer to Samoa than Tonga's main islands.

RNZ reports while in Samoa, Real Tonga's general manager commercial, Tele Faletau, met with representatives of Polynesian Airlines about a possible codeshare.

Mr Faletau said a link between Samoa and Tonga has been needed for a long time.

On every domestic air ticket sold, a fee of T$11.50 is charged and paid to the local airport authority.

This charge is used by the local airport authority for the provision and maintenance of all airports within the Kingdom, as well as air navigation equipment that is required to safely support all airline operations into, out of and around the Kingdom. 

Tevita Palu's comments came after Tonga Airways was refused an operating license and its passengers had to fly on Real Tonga's aircraft.

Mr Palu said they carried about 200 passengers who had bought tickets from Tonga Airways this week.

Tonga Airways is a partly Tongan, partly foreign owned venture and was aiming to provide a second air service for Tonga and said it would bring cheaper airfares than the existing operator, Real Tonga.

This was announced by the airlines Chief Executive Officer, Tevita Palu to guests and the media about developments with Real Tonga Airlines in Nuku’alofa this week.

The airline’s MA60 aircraft will recommence services to Vava’u after being grounded for over 18 months.

The MA60 is a 56-seater aircraft and was a gift from the Chinese Government to the Tongan government, and Real Tonga Airlines has leased it for four years.

A press release said in February 2015, the government grounded the operation of the aircraft and took it back from Real Tonga.

The CEO of Real Tonga airlines, Tevita Palu, says the hold up is due to a failure of the government to complete aircraft certification documentation.

He said a grounded MA-60 aircraft is expected to be used for Tonga's air service this month.

RNZ reports the MA-60 was gifted to Tonga by China in 2013 and started flying domestically in August of that year.

However, the New Zealand government called for the aircraft to be certified by an international recognised certification authority, suspending some aid and issuing a travel advisory for Tonga over its safety concerns.

New Zealand's foreign ministry website said safety standards can vary and should be closely monitored.