5 Mar 2015

New group leases Tonga's MA60 plane

12:43 pm on 5 March 2015

Tonga's domestic MA60 aircraft, which was gifted from China, has been leased by the government of Tonga to an unnamed group.

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Photo: RNZ

Matangi Tonga reports that the group includes an MP Samiu Vaipulu, who is a former deputy prime minister.

He says no further details can be released at this stage as they are still in the process of confirming details.

The new lease comes nearly a month after government took the MA60 out of service, terminating its lease arrangement with the local airline, Real Tonga.

The airline announced plans to bring in a new aircraft to provide for the domestic service by the end of the month.

The MA60 is a first of its type in Tonga and needs to undergo a new certification process.