Air Vanuatu eyes Tonga 7th-freedom rights

Ni-Vanuatu Prime Minister Bob Loughman Weibur has asked the Tongan government to grant seventh-freedom rights to Air Vanuatu which would allow it to increase connectivity to/from Tonga by basing an aircraft there, the online Kaniva Tonga news site has reported. "Such an arrangement would serve as a firm foundation for the creation of an equitable and collective multi-national air transport system for our countries and those of our fellow nations in Oceania," Weibur said. Tonga - a country of just over 100,000 residents - has one active airline, Lulutai Airlines (L8, Tongatapu), which operates one Saab 340B(Plus) and one Y12. As the archipelago country remains in relatively strict COVID-related lockdown, the airline operates domestic services from Tongatapu to Eua, Ha'apai, and Vava'u on a scheduled basis but with reduced frequencies. It also serves Niuafo'ou through charter flights. The Tongan government is reportedly considering selling the state-owned airline to dormant Fly Niu Airlines, which is owned by 'Atu Finau, the CE of Air Vanuatu. Commenting on the request for the seventh-freedom rights, Finau said Air Vanuatu was planning to expand its Pacific network but did not comment on whether the plan to acquire Lulutai Airlines was still in place.<br/>