Air Rarotonga
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox airline
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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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its main base and hub is Rarotonga International Airport.<ref name="FI">Flight International 27 March 2007</ref>
HistoryEdit
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DestinationsEdit
Following is a list of destinations Air Rarotonga flies to as part of its scheduled services, Template:As of.<ref name="Route Maps">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Hub |
| City | Country | IATA | ICAO | Airport | Refs and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aitutaki | Template:COK | AIT | NCAI | Aitutaki Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Atiu | Template:COK | AIU | NCAT | Enua Airport | <ref
name="Route Maps"/> |
| Mangaia | Template:COK | MGS | NCMG | Mangaia Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Manihiki | Template:COK | MHX | NCMH | Manihiki Island Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Mauke | Template:COK | MUK | NCMK | Mauke Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Mitiaro | Template:COK | MOI | NCMR | Mitiaro Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Penrhyn Island | Template:COK | PYE | NCPY | Tongareva Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Pukapuka | Template:COK | PZK | NCPK | Pukapuka Island Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Tahiti | Template:PYF | PPT | NTAA | Faa'a International Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
| Rarotonga | Template:COK | RAR | NCRG | Rarotonga International Airport | <ref name="Route Maps"/> |
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
FleetEdit
As of October 2019 the Air Rarotonga fleet includes the following aircraft:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers Template:Small |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>