Real Tonga could sign an agreement for new flights between the kingdom and Samoa as early as next week.
There has been no direct air service between Tonga and Samoa for a decade.
Real Tonga’s CEO, Tevita Palu, said the date would depend on how soon approval for the flights was approved.
Negotiations have been underway with Samoan airline authorities over a shared twice weekly service.
Palu said he was looking forward to providing an alternative route to and from Samoa and improving relationships with the Samoan Government.
As Kaniva News reported in July, the suggested cost of tickets on the proposed route was less than TP$874.
There are many Tongans in Samoa and Samons in Tonga, but at the moment they have to take a long and expensive route home via Fiji or New Zealand.
The Samoan Observer said the proposed service would fly between Fagalii in Samoa and Vava’u in Tonga.
Polynesian Airlines General Manager Seiuli Alvin Tuala told the Observer that Talofa Airways would serve the direct connection between Fagalii and the kingdom with flights on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
The Samoa-Tonga link come in the lead-up to the launch of the country’s national carrier, Samoa Airways, in November.
Tuala predicted that Samoa Airways and Samoa would be used as a transit point by other Island nations for travel to New Zealand and Australia.
The main points
- Real Tonga could sign an agreement for new flights between the kingdom and Samoa as early as next week.
- There has been no direct air service between Tonga and Samoa for a decade.
- Negotiations have been underway with Samoan airline authorities over a shared twice weekly service.
- As Kaniva News reported in July, the suggested cost of tickets on the proposed route was less than TP$874.
For more information
Tonga-Samoa ties re-established
Regional service to Samoa could be reality by August says Real Tonga CEO
