That has to be some kind of record, right? :ugh:

Typical lazy journalism. The aircraft pictured in the linked article hasn't worn those colours for 7 years. It's not even the same airline they are reporting on.

Been looking at FlightRadar24 regularly of late and the NLK-AKL return service with the Nauru Airlines aircraft still seem to be operating each Saturday.

Re: A bit of research shows that Air Nauru got an Australian AOC back in 1998. Since then some name changes to Our Airline and then, more recently, Nauru Airlines.
Interestingly, it is a foreign airline holding a full Australian AOC, not a Foreign AOC as most of the foreign international operators do.

Just got to love Wikipedia.

Another interesting point about Nauru is that its currency is the Australian dollar I believe? The only overseas, non Australian territory allowed to use it!

Not so!

The Kiribati Republic also uses the Australian Dollar as their official currency.

Tuvalu also uses the Aussie Dollar banknotes whilst having their own coins as part of the Tuvaluan Dollar. Both Tuvaluan coins and Aussie coins are in circulation together.

Kiribati and Tuvalu were once part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands.

Thanks witwiw - didn't know that! :) (About the currency).

And here in Kiribati one can still find original (1966) issue coins.

I have manged to collect a set each for my two grand kids. Now their parents want a set!! The coins cleaned up nicely in warm Coke.

"In come the dollars and in come the cents,
Out go the pounds and the shillings and the pence,
....
....
On the fourteenth of February 1966. "
[Also the date of the Red Hill tram depot fire which began the process for the end of trams in Brisbane]
{Not forgetting, of course, for all you romantics, the day for Mr Lincoln roses and chocolates]

MJG

No. Difference is the people on Cocos and Christmas Island don't think they're experts in everything including aviation and don't have multiple failed airline follies behind them... as to subsidy, I was just suggesting it needs to be subsidized, don't care who by but whoever does, needs to control the contracts and the services because every time it's been put in the hands of pine tree growers on the island it's been a disaster...

It's "subsidised". Even poster 36, of whom you've quoted, tried to point that out.

Interesting, wasn't aware Norfolk Island had an agribusiness industry in the form of tree growing and harvesting.

Bring back the Super King Airs I say....

Like this?

http://www.adastron.com/aviation/vault/VH-IBC-L37.jpg

Actually surprised Poxie haven't taken up the Norfolk route.

There's a lot of betel nut produced there. Would help both bottom lines. Win win......

VH-IBC, first B200 to go past 20,000 hours I recall. King Airs made money. Dash 8 didn't..

TBM

Do you know what ever happened to IBC? Last I heard she went to PNG as parts but the trail went cold from there.

Rgds

And one has been bust on the apron at Nadi for most of this week with the port cowling open.

As it happens, there is one of their aircraft there every week for 4 or 5 days. I see it come in from Nauru on a Sunday evening and it leaves again late Thursday night or early on Friday - it is part of their scheduling (although possibly it doesn't represent good utilisation).

Seeing an a/c there for a week is not unusual. They appear to rotate different aircraft through as the registration of the one that leaves is usually different to the one that returns a few days later.

I stand to be corrected but I haven't seen VH-PNI move much at all...for a while

The one in Nadi is doing an engine change this weekend according to an engineering source.

Many years ago when a B733 was operated ex MEL-SYD-NLK I remember that the passenger load was lucky to be half or just over half full, so more than likely not profitable. This may sound harsh, but what has changed out at Norfolk Island since then that will have tourists streaming out there? Or is this just a taxi service to the mainland for the locals and if they get some tourism, then that's great.

Seeing the King Air pic got me thinking that maybe the King Air is the best aircraft for this route. Maybe a King Air 350ER 3-5 times a week for passengers and B200 freighters once or twice a week. If something larger is required, then maybe Jetgo with an Embraer 135 may be suitable.

As much as the locals may want a larger aircraft on the route, it's obvious from the airlines that have been and gone from NLK that the passenger numbers are not there. So maybe it's time that the administration out there became realistic with their plans.

I don't believe Air New Zealand received any money from the Australian government for the SYD-NLK operation. Sure there was always the option of calling on the Australian government for a top up but this option was never exercised from what I've heard.