Air + Sea
Air + Sea
Air Marshalls Cancels Flights
Army Bill The Cause
Air Marshall Islands was forced to cancel flights early November as mounting debts to the U.S. Army's missile testing range hit US$190,000, prompting the Army to demand up-front payment before it would fuel and service the local planes. The Army operates a missile testing range on Kwajalein Atoll. The airport at the Army base also serves as a main hub for Air Marshall Islands service to remote parts of the Marshall Islands. AMI flights were canceled to Kwajalein Nov. 2 as AMI scrambled to put up the US$30,000 cash that the Army is now requiring as a monthly deposit before it will continue providing fuel and other services to Air Marshall Islands planes.
Flights to and through Kwajalein have now resumed.
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Tonga Opens Up Domestic Air Services
Other Operators Free To Bid
The monopoly of the Peau Vava'u Airway on the Tongan domestic air service ended Nov 1, when the Ministry of Civil Aviation advertised for a second airline to service the domestic airway, Matangi Tonga reports.
Director of Civil Aviation Viliami Ma'ake said that since the previous monopoly holder Peau Vava'u Airways failed to fulfil its obligation, including the providing of air services to 'Eua, and to Niuatoputapu and Niuafo'ou, the government decided to advertise for a second domestic air operator.
He said that under the Government's One Air Policy there has always been a provision that clearly said Government could open up the air service for other operators if the provider of the air service does not fully comply with the policy, "and everyone if thinks it's a good idea to open it up." Applications are to be assessed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation together with a committee that was set up to look at the economic side of the service.
Meanwhile Air Fiji says it has established a new airline company in Tonga. Called Airline Tonga, the company will be co-shared between the Tongan government and Air Fiji.
Air Fiji Chief Executive Officer Sialeni Vuetaki said this was part of the airlines plan to expand its services in the Pacific region. The airline is looking at destinations including Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Tonga and the Marshall Islands.
Air New Zealand Flies To Niue
But Faces Challenges At Home
Air New Zealand has begun a weekly service between Auckland and Niue.
"Air New Zealand has been flying to and from the Pacific Islands for more than 50 years and we are proud to now be able to include Niue in our Pacific Island network," says Air New Zealand Group General Manager Marketing, Network and Sales Norm Thompson. "With additional aircraft entering our fleet we now have some 737 capacity in which to operate this new service which will be an important link for Niue.
Niue Premier Young Vivian says the announcement is an important milestone for Niue. "Air New Zealand's new service gives hope for my small nation, particularly with our drive towards economic prosperity and maintaining our link with our people abroad. Polynesian Airlines cancelled its service to Niue at the end of October.
Meanwhile, Air New Zealand says it expects its profits to fall 57 per cent in the current year to June because of surging oil prices. Rob Fyfe has been named as the airline's new Chief Executive Officer.
TRANSPORT BRIEFS
Northwest Airlines anticipates further reductions in its flight schedule worldwide beginning in January 2006, as a result of its ongoing bankruptcy process.
"Northwest anticipates that its fourth quarter system mainline capacity will be down seven to eight percent compared with the fourth quarter of 2004, with domestic mainline capacity decreasing nine to 10 percent, and international mainline capacity down four to five percent," the carrier says.
Air Pacific's weekly fuel bill has ballooned to around F$3 million (US$1.71 million) per week. However Chief Executive John Campbell says "we are not in a crisis situation."
The groundbreaking ceremony for the $8.7 million Rota runway extension project in the Northern Marianas was held Oct. 26, with local leaders praising the project that would further increase the island's tourism base. The extension will enable the runway to accommodate 757 and 767 aircrafts.
The American Samoa Government's eight-seater aircraft finally arrived in Pago Pago Oct. 30th. The plane will be used for government business and to provide emergency transport service to the Manu'a Island group, in the event that commercial service is not available.
American Samoa has put off a regular shipping service to Tokelau for now, although organizers say the delay is temporary. The issue of excise taxes on fuel is still to be resolved.
Air Tahiti Nui's new Sydney-Papeete-New York service was more successful than the airline's new New York-Papeete-Sydney service during August, the first full month of non-stop flights from the U.S. and Australia. However neither route is producing as many tourists as the airline was hoping for. Air Tahiti Nui filled an average of 55.3% of its two weekly Sydney-Papeete flights during August, but only 35.2% of its Papeete-Sydney flights. The airline filled an average of 42.5% of the three weekly New York-Papeete flights during August, but 50.7% of the Papeete-New York flights.
Marianas Express Line has started shipping services to Guam, Yap, Palau, Davao, Hong Kong, Kao Shiung in Taiwan and Saipan.
Pacific Blue has begun three direct flights a week from Auckland to Tonga, and two direct weekly flights between Tonga and Sydney.
