Air Rarotonga

Air Rarotonga
IATA ICAO Call sign
GZ [1] RAR [2] Rarotonga
Founded1978
HubsRarotonga International Airport
Fleet size6
Destinations9
HeadquartersRarotonga, Cook Islands
Key peopleEwan Smith
Websitewww.airraro.com
Air Rarotonga Embraer 110 at Rarotonga International Airport (2012)
Air Rarotonga Saab 340 on the tarmac at Rarotonga International Airport
Air Rarotonga route map as of February 2008[3]

Air Rarotonga is an airline based in Rarotonga, Cook Islands and is the flag carrier of the country, known by their slogan as ‘The Airline of the Cook Islands’. It operates inter-island and regional scheduled services throughout the Cook Islands and to Tahiti. It also operates chartered flights to French Polynesia, Niue, Samoa, Kiribati and Tonga.[4] Its main base and hub is Rarotonga International Airport.[5]

History

The airline was established in February 1978 and started operations in July 1978 with a Cessna 337 aircraft. The company is owned by three private investors. More than 70,000 passengers travel between its island destinations each year.[6]

Destinations

Following is a list of destinations Air Rarotonga flies to as part of its scheduled services, as of October 2018.[7]

Hub
City Country IATA ICAO Airport Refs and Notes
Aitutaki  Cook Islands AIT NCAI Aitutaki Airport [7]
Atiu  Cook Islands AIU NCAT Enua Airport [7]
Mangaia  Cook Islands MGS NCMG Mangaia Airport [7]
Manihiki  Cook Islands MHX NCMH Manihiki Island Airport [7]
Mauke  Cook Islands MUK NCMK Mauke Airport [7]
Mitiaro  Cook Islands MOI NCMR Mitiaro Airport [7]
Penrhyn Island  Cook Islands PYE NCPY Tongareva Airport [7]
Pukapuka  Cook Islands PZK NCPK Pukapuka Island Airport [7]
Tahiti  French Polynesia PPT NTAA Faa'a International Airport [7]
Rarotonga  Cook Islands RAR NCRG Rarotonga International Airport [7]

Since August 2022 Air Rarotonga operates international flights to Tahiti using their own aircraft.

Previously, the airline codeshared with Air Tahiti on flights between Rarotonga and Tahiti. Air Rarotonga also code shares with Air New Zealand for flights between Rarotonga and Aitutaki with Air Rarotonga being the operator.

The airline also offers scenic flights over Rarotonga and air charter services to neighbouring Pacific Island countries including Tahiti, Niue, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and Kiribati.

The airline also operates air ambulance evacuations from all island airports in the Cook Islands and on to Auckland when required.[8]

Fleet

As of October 2019 the Air Rarotonga fleet includes the following aircraft:[9]

Air Rarotonga Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Passengers
(Economy)
Saab 340B+ 2 0 34
Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante 2 0 15
Cessna Citation II 1 0 8
Cessna 172 1 0 3
Total 6 0

In February 2016, the airline added its first Jet to their fleet.[10]

References

  1. ^ IATA. "IATA – Codes – Airline and Airport Codes Search". www.iata.org. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Air Rarotonga. Airline code, web site, phone, reviews and opinions". Airlines-inform.com. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Air Rarotonga – Book a Flight". Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Air Rarotonga – Air Charter". Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  5. ^ Flight International 27 March 2007
  6. ^ "ch-aviation interview: Ewan Smith, CEO Air Rarotonga". ch-aviation.blog. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Air Rarotonga Route Maps". Air Rarotonga. Retrieved 12 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Air Rarotonga – Air Ambulance – Medical evacuation". Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Air Rarotonga – Fleet". Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  10. ^ "Pacific Private Jet". Retrieved 26 June 2022.
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