21 Nov 2002

Tongan Airlines says lease plan on track

5:57 pm on 21 November 2002

Royal Tongan Airlines, or RTA, says negotiations with Royal Brunei Airlines over the lease of a Boeing 757 are on track despite the Legislative Assembly rejecting a proposal for government assistance.

RTA wants the Boeing 757 to help with a new international service that is scheduled to start on Monday.

For the lease agreement to take effect, RTA is required to pay a portion of the lease, valued at several million dollars, to Royal Brunei.

A noble MP, Prince Tu'ipelehake, moved to reject government financial support and was supported by a majority of MP's who were opposed to the use of public funds for it as RTA is already in debt.