Real Tonga Airlines (Tongatapu) has acquired two Jetstream 32s from Australia for use on flights to the archipelago's outer islands of Vava'u and Niuafo'ou. With the first of the pair due in country next week, so the Tongan carrier will withdraw its sole controversial MA-60, A3-RTL (cn 0904), from revenue service.
Tonga Tourism Authority general manager, Stuart Perry, told Radio New Zealand that the airline hopes the two aircraft will persuade the New Zealand government to remove a current travel advisory that warns tourists over their use of the Chinese aircraft.
The New Zealand government says the MA-60 has not been certified to fly in New Zealand or comparable jurisdictions.
"There will be an alternative aircraft that in actual fact is going to be better for the airline, that's going to be quicker for the airline, and has an excellent track record," he said.
Wellington suspended millions of dollars in tourism aid to the Pacific island nation last year when Tonga moved to accept the aircraft as a gift from the Chinese government.
