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Convair for Airline Tonga

The introduction of a 50-seater Convair aircraft to Airline Tonga’s fleet has helped build seat capacity on some of its busy domestic routes. The aircraft has begun servicing the Tongatapu-Vavau’-Ha’apai route twice daily with an average occupancy of 48 seats on every flight. The route is popular with international tourists visiting Tonga’s outer islands. Peau Vava'u, the other domestic airline has been operating a DC 3 service between between Tongatapu, Vava'u and Ha'apai. Tonga Airline’s Convair flights are in addition to the airline’s Harbin Y12 services on the ‘Eua, Niuatoputapu and Niuafo’ou routes. On the cards later this year is a Dash 8 type aircraft to service the Fiji-Vava’u route.


New Caledonia's domestic airline renews ageing fleet

Air Calédonie (AirCal), New Caledonia’s domestic airline took delivery of the first new generation ATR series 500 aircraft last month. The move is aimed at rejuvenating its ageing fleet as part of a restructuring exercise after years of losses and financial problems that have been attributed to high wages and an ageing fleet. The present three 48-seater AirCal ATRs are all between ten and fifteen years old. It sold its fourth plane in 2003. The airline also flies a 19-seat Dornier. The new plane is first of an order for three new turbo-prop ATR series 500 aircraft (1 ATR 42-500 and 2 ATR 72-500) that was placed in October last year for an estimated US$50 million. The other two planes will be delivered in 2007. The ATRs will add seat capacity to the domestic airline.


Brisbane Airport’s Freshport Centre

The Brisbane Airport Corporation invited investment proposals from groups interested in its new Freshport Centre: a dedicated on-airport facility for the export, import and distribution of perishable goods to and from Oceania to destinations around the world. Such centres are already functioning in Dubai, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London and Perth. With a completely dedicated facility to handle perishables, the centre will be a hub for agricultural produce, meat and flowers not only from Australia and New Zealand but the pacific islands as well. More such centres are expected to come up in Auckland and Singapore in the near future.


Tuvalu gets the larger Convair

Tuvalu’s government, which is a shareholder in Air Fiji, has expressed dissatisfaction at the airline’s services to the tiny nation, pointing out that flights to and from Funafuti have become irregular over the past few months. Air Fiji’s Brasilia aircraft have so far been servicing the route, but the airline has now pressed a new 50-seater Convair into service. The Convair has been acquired on wet lease from Air Chatham.


Air New Zealand takes stock of routes

Last month Air New Zealand announced the suspension of its services to Singapore. It is also reportedly considering reducing the frequency of its services to Tahiti.  The route rationalisation exercise, according to official sources, is a routine one but is thought to be dictated by the sudden spurt in aviation turbine fuel prices following escalation in situation in the Middle East. At present, the airline which has flown to Tahiti for 55 years, has four Auckland-Papeéte weekly flights and three Los Angeles-Papeéte flights every week.