Air New Zealand has firmly denied allegations that it will cancel flights to Tonga on July 1.
It follows reports suggesting the airline was protesting against the Tongan government’s decision to renationalise baggage handling services at Fuaʻamotu International Airport.
The speculation was repeatedly raised by the ABC News Tonga reporter Marian Kupu.
Kupu leveraged the allegation to criticise the Minister of Public Enterprises, Piveni Piukala, especially targeting the Minister’s policy of renationalising baggage handling services and the termination of ATS Company’s role. This private company previously managed the ground luggage operations.
She claimed that Air New Zealand flights would not be arriving in Tonga due to the airline’s objection to the government’s decision to remove ATS.
Kupu previously made the claims in several press conferences in Nuku’alofa.
The latest was on Thursday when she allegedly said: “Air New Zealand has already stated, he’ikai ke nau tō mai nautolu ia ‘okapau ‘oku take over ‘e he pule’anga’. Fefe leva ‘a e kau folau ko ia ‘i he ‘aho ‘uluaki ‘o Siulai?
She claimed that Air New Zealand would not land in Tonga on July 1 if the government were to take over.
“What will happen to those passengers?” Kupu asked the Minister.
In response, Piukala replied in Tongan that he understood the situation, acknowledging that Air New Zealand had its own interests while the government had its own.
“But what is paramount,” he stressed, “is national security.”
Air New Zealand Response
However, in an email statement to Kaniva News following a request for clarification regarding the allegation, an Air New Zealand spokesperson stated: “We have no plans to withdraw services to Tonga.”
The airline did not provide further details.
