Repatriation flights

A statement said the airline has sought the approval of the Solomon Islands Government and the relevant foreign governments.

The airline’s Airbus A320 aircraft, currently based in Brisbane, will first operate Flight IE614 from Honiara to Port Vila and Tongatapu departing at 8.00am from Henderson International Airport and arriving in Port Vila at 10.00am local time. Flight IE614 will then re-depart at 11.00am landing in Tongatapu at 3.25pm local time.

He confirmed this in Parliament. 

PM Tu'i'onetoa said Cabinet has no choice but to bring back our people.

He said Tongans have been away too long from home.

“Tonga is where their hearts are, their home, and where their loved ones stay.” 

PM Tu'i'onetoa said the Cabinet's decision will have both positive and negative impacts on Tonga but this is the Government's choice. 

He said Tonga is likely to close its borders until 2021, while at the same time, repatriates its people back home. He also mentioned there are risks involved but this must be done.

This is a flight from Fiji and expected to bring 40 Tongans.

Repatriation flights from New Zealand are planned for the first week of August, but discussions between the two governments are still ongoing.

The Prime Minister Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa said in a radio broadcast that they had done two drills on how to handle those repatriated, and they were confident that proper testing and quarantine procedures would prevent the transmission of the COVID-19 virus from those arriving in Tonga.