The Civil Aviation Department says Tonga Airways Ltd had requested to operate a special charter flight to Vava’u twice a week, but the department revoked their application.
Tonga Airways told Radio Tonga News they have not been informed of the reason for the last minute cancellation by the Ministry regarding their application for the special charter of Fiji Airways to service Vava’u during the last fortnight of 2016.
The cancellation led to the refund of 200 tickets of passengers after claims that the Minister of Infrastructure declined to give the green light to Tonga Airways.
Tonga Airways was set to commence operations on December 19th until December 30th.
A spokesman for Tonga Airways said they have not been informed yet of the move by the Minister, but was told that several meetings are being held regarding the issue.
Tonga Airways was going to charter a Fiji Airways aircraft to operate twice a week at a cost of FJD$21000.00 per flight.
Although no payment has been made to Fiji Airways but the spokesman said the costs involved in the preparation for the operation including producing appropriate documents and training of staff was quite high.
However, the Civil Aviation Department in a press release said the Minister and his Ministry earlier agreed to the request but directed Tonga Airways to submit several required documents.
This included: assurance of the safety of passengers, Civil Aviation Authority Fiji to accept the request for the special charter and to be responsible to all technical requirements of the aircraft when operating domestically in Tonga, to ensure that Tonga’s law legalizes chartering of an international flight in Tonga for commercial purposes and also to ensure that such moves will help the economy in general.
Civil Aviation spokesman said the Minister Semisi Sika set a deadline for his decision to be made on December 15th. However, prior to this date, Tonga Airways on the 14th withdrew their application
However despite the cancellation, Tonga Airway’s application for an A.O.C – Air Operation Certificate is still being processed by the Civil Aviation department.
Meanwhile, Real Tonga’s CEO, Tevita Palu said, the market in Tonga is too small for competition with another airline.
He said the cancellation of the bookings made by Tonga Airways will inflict losses to Real Tonga because; they can cater for stranded passengers to Vava’u but the return flights will barely have any passengers to Nuku’alofa.