Government may not allow any other airlines to operate in Tonga to compete with Lulutai Airlines. This was the indication in a leaked letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure.
Even though the letter from the Ministry of Infrastructure stated there is an open market for domestic air services, it also affirms the fact that the policy is restricted to Tongan-based air operators.
The CEO of Fly Niu, ‘Atu Finau, said of the letter: “It means they will not approve any other airline to compete with them”.
The Minister of Infrastructure, Sevenitini Toumoua, is also the Minister for Civil Aviation.
Real Tonga Airlines CEO Tevita Palu said the letter stated there was an open sky policy in Tonga, so anyone could apply to operate an airline in Tonga, but this was restricted to an air service provider who was based in Tonga. He asked whether this meant Lulutai and Real Tonga.
“We need a Government that is transparent, accountable and responsible for their actions and directions,” he said.
Finau and Palu have pledged to work together to provide an airline service to replace Lulutai, but this may not get Government support.
There was talk of the possibility of a private/public partnership in which Government goes into partnership with Real Tonga and Fly Niu to form a viable domestic air service. It has become clear that Government does not want a joint venture, but to have their own airline, even though it is not working well, not at all.