Tonga to finalise repatriation flights

The Tonga National Emergency Management will meet with the Covid-19 Committee tomorrow to finalise recommendations for repatriation flights.

The recommendations will then go to Cabinet for consideration.

Repatriation flights have been scheduled to arrive in Tonga on 18 January from Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and, possibly, Samoa.

A repatriation flight from New Zealand is also tentative for 20 January.

Tonga Health officials have confirmed that 3,122 people have been repatriated since the border restrictions began in March 2020.

The last repatriation flight to Tonga from New Zealand arrived on 27 October with 215 passengers.