Talofa flights to Tonga scheduled for this month

Apia-based Talofa Airways has confirmed direct flights to Tonga from American Samoa and Samoa will be launched at the end of the month.

The fights will operate on Mondays and Friday from Fagali'i Airport to Tongatapu.

The flights from Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa will operate on Sundays and Thursdays local time.

RNZi reports the flights come less than a year since Talofa started operations.

In a statement the airline's CEO Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said Talofa Airways was now ready to provide the much needed direct air services between Tonga and the two Samoas.

He said it was his hope to expand the service to Niue, Wallis & Futuna and other neighbouring islands.

Direct flights between Pago Pago and Tonga has been welcomed by American Samoa's Tongan community, who have to travel to Apia and on to Auckland to catch a flight to Tonga.