Royal Tongan Airlines
Royco Building, Fatafehi Road
Nuku'alofa, Kingdom of TONGA
Phone: (676) 23-414 or Fax: (676) 23 559
Royal Tongan Airlines
[Royal Tongan Airlines went into recievership circa 2004. These pages remain for reference but after the General Manager had their technical team contact me about removing my pages it is sad that what was once a valued service for Tonga is no longer operational. This page is remaining as reference material only.]
Towards the end of 2002, Royal Tongan Airlines neared finalisation of a leasing agreement with Royal Brunei for the use of planes by Royal Tongan Airlines.
For a break down of the news click on this google-search
The official government announcement of the 'deal' was shown on the Prime Minister's Office website at this link
Since that site can be very slow to access at times, I've presented some of the text below.
Two Monarchs in a spirit of mutual respect and a desire to bring their peoples together in closer cooperation have pledged their support to an enterprise that could signal a closer link between Asia and the South Pacific.
This evening we gather here at Fua’amotu International Airport to witness the substance and the form of this cooperation.
A noted Civil Aviation Expert of the Region recently remarked that
“no state in the Pacific can afford a National Airline – But then no State in the Region can afford not to have a National Airline”
There lies the rub - damned if you do and doubly damned if you don’t.
His Majesty’s Government has given this enterprise its fullest consideration. It has concluded that it has little option but to proceed if we are going to take control of this Nation’s destiny.
For too long the three vital areas of our economy, Tourism, Fisheries and Agriculture have been dependent on the priorities set outside Tonga. The appeals from the private sector to try and influence other carriers to provide greater frequency, more cargo space and flight times that are more socially acceptable, litter every Minister’s desk. I regret that Governments efforts have fallen on deaf ears as priorities are rightfully set to meet other National interests.
And so today I bite the bullet knowing full well the consequences of my actions. For the Small Island states of the Pacific there are no easy options or solutions to provide for the growing needs of our peoples. With a brave heart, the support of our people and top class management, we cannot fail.
Finally, Your Majesty, I wish to pay special tribute to a very unique group, the leaders of Royal Brunei Airlines and Royal Tongan Airlines, they have done what the experts predicted could not be done, in four months. To negotiate the parameters of the cooperation, to put into place the difficult technical mechanisms to allow the aircraft to operate, and to receive the blessings of 5 separate Civil Aviation Authorities, each totally committed to every aspect of airline safety, is a miracle in itself.
Royal Brunei Airlines has within the confines of its own mandate, to run its affairs on a commercial basis, has provided support for Royal Tongan’s fledgling effort. As chairman of the Board of Royal Tongan Airlines, I ask that the Representatives of Royal Brunei, convey to their Chairman my deepest gratitude.
And so today the Tongan Sea Eagle, the ‘Ikale Tahi takes wing to soar to its appointment with destiny, borne on the wings of a prayer and the blessings of a hopeful nation.
May God shine His countenance on her,
Wherever she may roam.
[ref: http://pmo.gov.to/Inauguration of Royal Tongan Airlines B757.htm]
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Royal Tongan Airlines |