Nauru Airlines Seeks Pacific Growth With 1st Boeing 737-800
The 21-year-old aircraft will aid in cargo operations in the Central Pacific.
Aviation news international -The little airline that could, Nauru Airlines, has made history for the tiny island nation in the South Pacific, beginning its next chapter, launching freight operations alongside its passenger services, with the carrier adding a Boeing 737-800F aircraft to its fleet.
Nauru Airlines, which services the nation of Nauru, a tiny atoll based northeast of Papua New Guinea, has an airline based out of Brisbane International Airport, is registered under the Australian Aviation Safety Authority, and follows Australian aviation standards. The ‘new’ aircraft for the carrier is over 21 years old, having first taken flight on April 12th, 2002, for Excel Airways, and has even served for Ryanair, Sunwings, and Garuda before ending up in Indonesia for Sriwijaya Air from 2016 to this year, before it was handed over to Nauru Airlines on August 1st, 2023. They are now holding the Australian registration VH-8TG, serial number 33003 LN:1121.
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24 tonnes of cargo
Pacific Islands rely heavily on cargo freight services for fresh water, foodstuffs, medical suppliers, and other necessities. With the new aircraft’s capacity sitting at around 24 tonnes of cargo, they will be welcomed with open arms for the region. Nauru, with a population of about 10,000, once upon a time was one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita due to phosphorus mining on the island. However, the once ‘Kuwait of the Pacific’ quickly lost its fortune. Poor investments and corruption meant the entire proceeds from the phosphorus mining were poorly invested, leaving the country virtually bankrupt.
Until today, Nauru Airlines has become an established viable commercial airline, which operates services across the Central Pacific, and frequently steps in with ACMI and cargo operations for other nations’ airlines in need. An example was when the carrier stepped in during an issue with the Marshall Airlines freight operator or when Nauru Airlines applied to the US DOT to fly cargo and passenger services to Guam. Dr. Kieren Keke, the Chairman of the Board of Nauru Airlines, noted:
“Nauru Airlines was established to connect Nauru to Australia and the Pacific, but it’s challenging to maintain commercially. A big part is working for other operators and airlines out of Brisbane.”
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Nauru International Airport (INU)
Being the only airport in the Republic of Nauru, the airport is located on the southern end of the Island and was first built during World War II during Nauru’s Japanese occupation. Its first operations took flight in 1943, and once the war ended, the airport was converted for civilian flights.
Located in Yaren, the republic’s capital, the airport is close to many of the nation’s government buildings and parliament. Home to the head office of Nauru Airlines, the Republic of Nauru Civil Aviation Authority sits in the airport and is tasked with its security, immigration, and customs service. With only one carrier taking flight at the airport, Nauru Airlines operates services to Brisbane, Honiara, Majuro, Nadi, Pohnpei, and Tarawa.
Sources: Sky News
