Royal Tongan
Airlines was the national carrier of Tonga for many years, providing the only inter-island scheduled air service
linking Tongatapu with 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and the Niuas. Royal Tongan Airlines
[Royal Tongan Airlines went into recievership circa 2004, just after being warned by from the then General Manager to 'remove' these pages. These pages remain for reference material only. In 2006 two airlines were 'chartered' with providing domestic services. Peau Vava'u and Airlines Tonga]
Royal Tongan
Airlines was the national carrier of Tonga for many years, providing the only inter-island scheduled air service
linking Tongatapu with 'Eua, Ha'apai, Vava'u, and the Niuas.
Inter-island fares were very reasonable, and competitive with fares for seafarers.
The island hoppers used for inter-island flights are reasonably comfortable. For local residences the flights were an important contribution to allow friends and family to attend critical events at short notice (most notibaly funerals) and in the case of flight emergencies from the outer islands to the better equipped Tongatapu hospital. When the company failed, its importance to the local tourism industry became obvious as many operators were on the brink of collapse with quite a few laying off staff.
With what I experienced, the former national carrier spent a lot of credit on promoting the country as it also directly profited from increased travel (by tourists and expats) to and from Tonga.
On a historical perspective (brought to us by our intrepid Peter Goldstern) domestic air services in the 1980's were operated by the South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) based in Pago Pago and owned by Mr. George Ray. Mr. Uliti Uata also operated an intermittent service under the corporate flag of Tonga Air.
Sometime in the 1980's(?) the Tongan Government formed the Friendly Island Airways (FIA) precursor to what became Royal Tongan Airlines. FIA was initially managed by Mr. Bob Moyne (?)
As Peter points out, we may need to get this stuff down before it is all lost.
This is part of the rationale for the pages remaining on this site, although the corporation has gone there once was a corporation called Royal Tongan Airlines and its own way it helped promote and extend Tonga's economy and people. |
Royal Tongan Airlines |
[ref: http://www.tongatapu.net.to]
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