Fly Niu optimistic gov’t will approve partnership proposal to build kingdom’s international airline

'Oku fakatu'amelie pe 'a e Talēkita 'o e kautaha vakapuna Fly Niu 'Atu Finau 'e tali pe 'e he pule'anga Tonga' 'enau fokotu'u ke nau hoa ngāue ke langa ha kautaha vakapuna fakavaha'apule'anga 'a Tonga. 'E ma'u atu 'e he kautaha' 'a e ngaahi vakapuna ke ngāue'aki ki he fepun'aki ko 'eni kau ai 'a e kau ngāue ka ko e fokotu'u ki he pule'anga' ke tokoni ia 'i he ngaahi tafa'aki hangē ko hano to'o e ngaahi tute mo e tukuhau 'e ala ke toe ma'ama'a ange ai 'a e totongi folau 'a e kau pāsese'. Ko hono lelei 'o e fakakaukau ko 'eni' he 'ikai ngata ko e pa'anga 'e ma'u 'e nofo pe 'i Tonga ka 'e malava ke iku tu'u ai leva ha kautaha vakapuna fakavaha'apule'anga 'a Tonga. Ko Fisi mo Ha'amoa kuo 'osi 'i ai 'ena kautaha vakapuna fakavaha'a pule'anga kuo laui ta'u 'ena lele'. Ko Tonga 'oku kei hala ko e fepuna'aki fakaloto fonua' pe. Pehē 'e Finau' ko e lau miliona he ta'u 'oku tānaki 'e he ngaahi kautaha vakapuna fakavaha'a pule'anga muli' mei he folau ki Tonga' ka 'oku ha'u kotoa 'a e pa'anga ia ko ia ki muli.

The director of Fly Niu airline said he was optimistic the government would approve a proposal to work together to build an international airline for Tonga.

Fly Niu director ‘Atu Finau was in Tonga in December and presented his proposal to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

He previously met the Prime Minister in Auckland and discussed his plan before he was invited to come to Tonga and present his idea to the cabinet.

Finau said if the government agreed the money generated by the business would stay in Tonga.

As Kaniva news reported, last year Finau proposed operating a service between Auckland and Tonga using two aircraft.

It is planned to include a regional services beginning with Fiji and Samoa.

Fīnau, an aviation consultant and engineer with 25 years experience, said he had access to aircraft from companies in Canada and Iceland which would be ideal to operate in Tonga.

Finau said Fiji and Samoa had their own national airlines which served their people internationally, while Tonga has none.

He said the government as partner would help remove certain taxes and duties which would give  the airline an opportunity to provide cheap airfares for its passengers.

He said the feedback he got after his presentation was encouraging.

The Prime Minister’s media spokesperson said the cabinet continued to discuss the matter and a decision would be announced soon.

The proposal was submitted after the airline was forced out of the kingdom 15 years ago when the then government announced its one domestic airline policy and gave the right to operate local flight services to the late Crown Prince and his business partners’ airline, Peau Vava’u. The airline went out of business in 2008.

The main points

  • The director of Fly Niu airline said he was optimistic the government would approve a proposal to work together to build an international airline for Tonga.
  • Fly Niu director ‘Atu Finau was in Tonga in December and presented his proposal to the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.

For more information

Fly Niu airline presents gov’t proposal to operate Auckland-Tonga flights

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