New Zealand forces withdrawal of Chinese aircraft of Tonga..

[Stratofreighter]

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/ ... stream-32s

11 hours ago

Real Tonga Airlines (RT, 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.

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.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ ... s-'concern'

http://www.radionz.co.nz/international/ ... nal-planes

Updated at 4:42 pm on 11 June 2014

The head of Tonga's Tourism Authority says two Jetstream planes being purchased by Real Tonga will not replace the controversial MA-60 aircraft,
but are additions to the airline's fleet.

Stuart Perry says the planes will allow Real Tonga more flexibility with scheduling to the outer islands
but also gives the airline a chance to continue flights to Vava'u,
if the MA-60 needs to be grounded to go through additional certification demanded by New Zealand.

Mr Perry says the tourism industry in Vava'u has been economically devastated since New Zealand first issued a travel advisory about the MA60.

He says they hope the planes will help lead to the advisory being lifted and New Zealand lifting its suspension of aid funds to the tourism sector.

We'd all hope that it'd be lifted immediately and we'd hope that the funds be released immediately but I appreciate that the government would have to go through the appropriate processes.
I'm sure that they will and I'm sure if the issue's resolved to the satisfaction of Murray McCully and the prime minister then I'm sure they will be positive and make the right decision.

Also see
http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/intern ... sm/1324518
plus the video at
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/tonga-o ... nz-5999388 .