Real Tonga airline says no room for second airline Featured
24 December, 2016. The head of Real Tonga airline says the government's approval of another passenger service for the Kingdom is too much for the local market.
Tevita Palu's comments came after Tonga Airways was refused an operating license and its passengers had to fly on Real Tonga's aircraft.
Mr Palu said they carried about 200 passengers who had bought tickets from Tonga Airways this week.
Tonga Airways is a partly Tongan, partly foreign owned venture and was aiming to provide a second air service for Tonga and said it would bring cheaper airfares than the existing operator, Real Tonga.
But Mr Palu, who is now a member of the Tourism Board of Authority chaired by Minister of Civil Aviation, Semisi Sika, told Kaniva News there is no room for a second airline.
A report by World Bank had recommended only one airline to serve Tonga's domestic flight services can financially survive.
Mr Palu said his airline operates five aircraft, which is more than what is required to serve the Tongan market.
Semisi Sika declined Tonga Airways' license application last week.
However his action angered Tonga Airways' chairman, former Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu.
Mr Vaipulu said it was disappointing that Mr Sika chose not to grant approval for Tonga Airways to start its domestic service using chartered Fiji Airways aircraft.
He told Radio New Zealand International his company would keep pressing the government to approve its services.
-RNZI
3 comments
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Oku mau faka'amu kemo ngaue fakataha Samiu Vaipulu mo Tevita Palu ke langa 'a e fefolau'aki vakapuna 'i Tonga na, he ko e ongo Tonga ki moua 'oku mo loto lahi ke fai e ngaue mahu'inga koena. Mo tu'u fakataha ma'a hotau kakai, he 'oku mo malava e alea mo e fetu'utaki fakaevakapuna, pea ka mo ka tu'u fakataha 'e kaukaua e langa fonua 'oku fakahoko. Ofa atu.
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taengali lotu mooni koe foi fiemau ia a tevita palu siokita ke oua toe ai ha airline kae fefe sii kakai koe tuu he taimi koe kau palangi pe moe kau tonga nofo muli moe kakai sii ai enau seniti tenau lava o totongi e fea hoo kautaha. koeha hano kovi ke 2 kemo feauhi ke sai kihe kakai?
oua e fiu sai hoo lahi nofo mai kihe nepituno ke kei ogo ai ho leo he kuo mei emeni hoo mou pepa kele'a kae melino a tonga ni...ioooo, sai ketau fiefia... he ko hoo fakamatala oku mioi tatau pe moe kele'a kae vakaii fakalelei ena naa mou takoto he kete e taha -
Ofa pe 'oku mou ma'u ha Kilisimasi Fiefia mo Melino he aho fkkoloa ko'eni.
Ai pe loto Real Tonga ke Fiefia ke ta'au moe alunga 'oe 'Aho !!
"oku fu'u Lahi 'ae Helekosi takai 'a kau airline fo'ou, 'osi atu 'ae teu fokotu'u 'ae Royal Airlines he fkosiosi 'oe 2014, kuo toe ene eni 'ae Tonga Airline ke fe fkkake'i kihe puna fkloto Fonua ? Koe ha 'e me'a 'oku vivili kiai ? Na'e 'iai nai ha Palomesi moe ng., Hoa ngaue he kuo hili kuo vili tae'unua pehee ai ?
'Oku ta'engali 'a e fktau tikite te'eki ma'u 'ene Laiseni pea pehee kiha vakapuna, ke fkhoko 'enau fepuna'aki ?? Hange 'eni ia ha decoy? he va'inga lanitaaa 'ae Kau leka, ke pehee pe he'ene kau share holders 'oku fai ha ngaue malohi, kae hili koia koe fkalinga pe.......
'Oku totonu ke fkilo he'ene kau pasese na'e fktau tikite mei he kautaha Tonga Airways 'ae taki hala'i Lahi faufaua kuo ne fkhoko ?????
Kuo nau tu'u hake he taimi ni ke Tukuaki'i 'ae Pule'anga.........pea 'oku sai ia ke tau 'ilo....!!!!!!
Mou ma'u a Fiefia moe Melino he aho fkkoloa ni.......