Tonga
p. 43 · Read in the full issue
Aik Service For
Probable TEAL Schedule In July
From Our Own Corresponded.
Suva, May 25.
TASMAN Empire Airways, at the request of, and subsidised by the Tongan Government, made proving flight from Suva to akualofa on May 20, with a Solent rcraft carrying NZ Civil Aviation id TEAL officials, and a dozen lying passengers.
Subject to a license being issued ' Civil Aviation, TEAL announced ter that it plans to operate twelve ghts per year—two per month, r ery second month. First regular ,ght is planned to take place >out early July; and the fares, iva-Nukualofa, will be £NZI3-13 ngle, and £NZ24-12 return. The turn flight will be made in a single ly, with a two-hours stop-over in ukualofa.
TEAL has pointed out that, lough it would be very desirable lat Nukualofa be included in the jral Route service, this cannot be me, as the entire timing of the oral Route and Trans-Tasman irvices would be effected. For the
same reason a longer stop-over cannot be made at Nukualofa, as the return flight must be completed in a single day, as the safety-margin for arrival back at Lauthala Bay (Suva) before dark allows only two hours at the Tongan capital.
The exact dates of the flights will, wherever possible, be timed to fall between the visits of the Union Go’s ships’ regular calls at Nukualofa, so that an airmail connection will be provided between the surface mail outlets.
Discussions are still continuing with the Tongan Government and Civil Aviation regarding moorings, Customs clearance, radio, and other facilities. However, it is not ex pected that there will be a hold up in the commencement of the service. (New Zealand National Airways Corporation included Nukualofa in its service from New Zealand to
the Pacific Islands until the end of June, 1951. The call was then cut out. The local aerodrome, Fuamotu, near Nukualofa, was maintained by the NZ Department of Works and they wished to charge Tonga £lO,OOO per annum for its upkeep.
The Tongan Government said that the Kingdom could not afford that amount, particularly as the air ser vice was of small benefit to the Tongans themselves—it merely benefited a few European merchants and Government officials. It was suggested then that a flying-boat service would suit Tonga better as such craft could use the lagoon and expensive upkeep of an aerodrome would not be necessary). fl Mrs. R. J. Lotze, whose husband is manager of the BSIP Trade Scheme, paid a short visit to Suva in May, making the round trip in the Kurimarau.