Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Does Tonga have an operating domestic airline?

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea / Tonga

I can't find a working website for any domestic airline operator in Tonga. Wikipedia says Airlines Tonga folded, and I can't find anything on Peauvavua, the other operator that supposedly exists. Is there one?

Another question - are ferries going to be booked out already for January with families returning home, especially since there might not be an operating airline?

I'm considering a last minute trip to Tonga this January from NZ before I head back to the states, but leaning towards no because of this transport situation...convince me otherwise!

From my investigations for our trip, Chathams Pacific is the only airline servicing the islands of Tonga with their Convair 580 aircraft.
[www.chathamspacific.com]
Admittedly their website doesn't seem to work all the time, but I have seen their online booking system webpage up and running over the past few days when I have been checking prices

Edited by: avflys72

1

On-line booking site was working on 29th Dec., but it is not working today, 30th Dec.

Their timetable site, at least, is working:

Chatham Pacific timetable

And their flights are also operating with no problem.

2

Chatham Pacific is pretty reliable, at least for Tongan standards. But make sure you re-confirm a few days before each flight, and again the day before. Flight times can change at the last minute, some even are rescheduled for an earlier time than originally planned.

3

Tonga Airports Information

Flight schedules available here.

4

Timetable in the Tonga Airport Ltd. hasn't been updated since last June. I sent them e-mails to update it, but they have never done.

Their timetable via Matangi Tonga on-line is more up-to-date.

5

OK, thanks,. Good info.

6