The Fijian and Tongan Governments today sealed a deal which will see Fiji Airways operate air services in Tonga.

Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and visiting Tongan Minister for Civil Aviation,  Etuate Sungalu Lavulavu signed a Memorandum of Understanding which opens up the Tongan market.

Fiji Airways has already been operating a flight within Tonga between the capital, Nukualofa, and the island of Vavau but on a charter basis to the Tongan airline, Real Tonga.  

The new agreement allows for this flight to be now designated as a Fiji Airways service with a Fiji Airways flight number and also opens up the possibility of the Fijian national airline operating services to other Tongan destinations and beyond. 

The Attorney General said the agreement was an important breakthrough for the national airline that would benefit both Fiji and Tonga. 

“The Tongan Government has asked Fiji Airways not only to fly domestic routes but also examine the feasibility of operating services between Tonga and Samoa, Niue and the Cook Islands. Fiji Airways has agreed to assess the Tongan request and will make a commercial decision in the near future."

The Tongan Minister said his Government was looking to Fiji Airways for help because the existing domestic airline in Tonga was “not reliable”.

He thanked the Fijian Government for making the agreement possible and said the Tongan Government looked forward to a fruitful relationship with Fiji Airways.

By Reginald Chandar