Real Tonga airline

Real Tonga assures flights will resume from Vava’u

Tevita Palu, director of Real Tonga told Radio Tonga News assured the flights are likely to resume later today. 

Spare parts for the two aircraft are expected to arrive tonight or tomorrow to help ease the situation.

Palu said the MA60 will resume operation on Saturday after several training flights were conducted. 

Real Tonga plane ordered to stop flying

Minister of Infrastructure, 'Etuate Lavulavu told Radio and Television Tonga News that despite a flat tyre to the Real Tonga plane at Kaufana Airport in Eua, the plane should not have been ordered not to fly.

The Solicitor General confirmed that Civil Aviation has grounded the plane.

However, the Minister said Government will wait 14 days for the engineer report before deciding on the fate of the Y12 aircraft. In the meantime, the plane will continue flying, said Minister Lavulavu.

Radio Tonga said the plane was empty when the incident happened at Kaufana Airport.

MA60 will be available within a month, says Tonga’s Finance Minister

Radio Tonga News reports that Civil Aviation is in discussion with two companies that are interested in leasing the aircraft.

One of the interested party is Tonga Airways, previously known as Royal Tongan Airlines.

According to the Acting CEO of Infrastructure, Pesalili Tuiano, Tonga Airways will need to submit documents to show the change before the airline submits its interest for the MA60.

It’s believed there is a misunderstanding between senior officials on the establishment of the new airline.