Royal Tongan Relaunch In Trouble — Civil Aviation Forum

Sponsor Message:


My Starred Topics \| Profile \| New Topic \| Forum Index \| Help \| Search

Royal Tongan Relaunch In Trouble

TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11
Posted (10 years 6 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 779 times:

Plans to relaunch Royal Tongan Airlines are in disarray after the collapse of a deal with Royal Brunei, leaving the Pacific carrier without a suitable aircraft.

The Tongan government-owned airline was scheduled to launch daily services next week between New Zealand and Tonga, and weekly flights between Tonga and Australia, using a Royal Brunei B757.

However, the deal is understood to have collapsed.

Prime Minister 'Ulukalala Lavaka Ata, King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV's youngest son, was forced to rush home from French Polynesia to deal with the crisis. The prince is also chairman of Royal Tongan Airlines.

An attempt to launch Royal Tongan failed last year following the collapse of a deal to lease an Air Pacific B737. The carrier then failed in an attempt to lease an Air New Zealand aircraft.

8 replies: All unread, jump to last

Marara From Australia, joined Oct 2001, 676 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (10 years 6 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 740 times:

Bugger.

I was looking forward to seeing the 757 in Royal Tongan Colours.

Ahh well. Thanks for keeping us up to date

I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. Jerome K Jerome

VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50
Reply 2, posted (10 years 6 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 704 times:

Evidently, the problem has been sorted out, as the 757 has landed in Sydney, on its way to Auckland. This info is coming from the YSSY Message Board over at http://www.acay.com.au/~willt/yssy/enthus/welcome.html

V/F

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh

TG992 From New Zealand, joined Jan 2001, 2910 posts, RR: 11
Reply 3, posted (10 years 6 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 697 times:

Yes - WR5000 is scheduled to land in AKL at 1815 tonight, with 55 passengers on board. Registration is V8-RBB. Onward flight to TBU should be departing around 1925, with 40 pax.

Don't know who the pax are, as I believe it's a delivery flight!

I'm glad WR are off the ground again, although I fear they won't last long in today's climate, and with their slightly eccentric future plans.

VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50
Reply 4, posted (10 years 6 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 691 times:

TG992 - my guess is they are probably Royal Brunei Staff, as the initial arrangement is a wet lease. Perhaps some of them are people going over to try and sort out whatever last minute problems are happening?

V/F

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh

Aussie_ From Australia, joined Dec 2000, 1765 posts, RR: 5
Reply 5, posted (10 years 6 months 2 days 18 hours ago) and read 682 times:

Yes it's all happening. Last minute negotiations and a significant deposit saw the deal go ahead.

Aircraft is in full Royal Tongan livery and apparently looks a treat.

VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50
Reply 6, posted (10 years 6 months 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 627 times:

Here is a picture of the aircraft in WR livery, departing SYD for AKL on its delivery yesterday - thanks Micheil Keegan

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Micheil Keegan

The livery appears to be identical to that carried on Royal Tongan's last jet, ZK-NAF (leased from Air New Zealand)

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Photo © Steve King

There is some speculation that the deal may still be on shaky ground; I think for us it is a case of 'watch this space'...

V/F

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh

ZK-NBT From New Zealand, joined Oct 2000, 5020 posts, RR: 12
Reply 7, posted (10 years 6 months 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 623 times:

Was it in AKL today? I was at the airport but didn't see this aircraft, I wasn't in the terminal though.

Cool a 757 to AKL again don't get any regulars.

VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50
Reply 8, posted (10 years 6 months 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 611 times:

NBT - It would have been in AKL yesterday, as it arrived in TBU yesterday evening, apparently.

V/F

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh

Top Of Page

Forum Index

This topic is archived and can not be replied to any more.

Printer friendly format

Similar topics: