737-200 Pacific based carriers

[Tony Madge - HJG]

This I think concludes my list of Pacific based carriers

[aerofoto - HJG Admin]

Those look "GOOD" Tony. As discussed privately it "does" conclude the Southwest Pacific region (all of the essential ingredients at least) representation of B732's .... from the late 70's until mid 1990's.

Everything else's done and released .... or is about to be be released.

Bit about some of these carriers (further updated) ....


AIR NAURU was the first of the Pacific operators (excluding NZNAC and AIR NEW ZEALAND) to acquire B732 equipment .... their first aircraft being delivered during 1975 (C2-RN3 "Chief Detudamu"). The Island of Nauru (located within the remote central Pacific region) became mega-wealthy during this period through the exportation of bird shi-yet/"guamo/phosphate", but, offered nothing/little of any touristic significance .... yet the airlines B721's and B732's operated quite an extensive regional and international route network from Nauru to Auckland, Apia, Brisbane, Guam, Hong Kong, Kagoshima, Majuro, Nadi, Noumea, Nuku'Alofa, Okinawa, Port Vila, Ponape, and Tarawa .... and to other destinations on charter. The airline was little more than a government air taxi really (nepotism within the Nauru government resulted in shopping sprees and international vacations for the favored few at the expense of the island economy .... and only because they could suddenly afford to do so. The story of Nauru is essentially one of sudden wealth and total abuse of it .... as often occurs in cases where "new money's" concerned). During the 1970's and 80's the airline was "not very professionally run" .... and it's standards began to become obvious .... particularly when the NZCAA withdrew AIR NAURU's license to operate its B732's into NZ ports during the mid 1980's) "until their maintenance was brought up to scratch". That engineering contract went to AIR NEW ZEALAND first .... and was later awarded to Australia (probably ANSETT). Air NAURU operated 3 B732's .... 2 of which were Gravel Kit equipped C ADV's whilst it's 3rd aircraft was a standard ADV. During the early 1990's though, and aided by new (and experienced/professional management) AIR NAURU became more "tourist service oriented". It begin operating scheduled air services contracts on behalf of other Pacific islands governments (such as Niue Island) and established paper airlines .... such as KIWI TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES CHARTERS. It was at this point I became involved with Niue Island (as a tourism photographer) and which resulted in my then having to frequently travel "on the better/more competent/compliant" AIR NAURU (on each of their 3 B732's). Despite the airlines new service focused drive some (though not all) of their girls struggled to provide the standard of cabin service taken for granted on most other carriers .... through their not being accustomed to flying with high PAX loads. I remember 1 girl in particular (I guess one generally does ) on a full flight (around 115 PAX aboard) out of Niue and whom just "could not cope" with a full load of PAX, so, she ended up retiring down the back, in her jump-seat, with a blanket wrapped around her and slept for 3/4 of the 3.5 hour flight to AKL whilst her 3 companions did all the cabin work .... she was essentially just along for the ride whilst getting paid for the privilege. AIR NAURU acquired B734's during the mid 1990's. After my time the airline evolved (for worse and then better) to become OUR AIRLINE operating a B733 .... and later/more recently NAURU AIRLINES operating B737NG equipment.

POLYNESIAN AIRLINES (the airline of Western Samoa) surprised many of us at AKL when it acquired its own B732 (5W-PAL "Sina") during 1981 .... we all wondered where/who the hell they got their financing from (we learned the answer much later on as ownership of their B732 evolved). The airline had been established decades earlier though and Western Samoa was already supported by a thriving tourism industry, but, POLYNESIAN's international services .... from Apia to Auckland, Brisbane, Nadi, Niue Island, Nuku'Alofa, Rarotonga, and Sydney .... only commenced during February 1978 as charters (operated by NZNAC and later AIR NEW ZEALAND B732's). During the early/mid 1980's the airline got itself "into the financial crap" but was essentially rescued by ANSETT AUSTRALIA .... whom provided both engineering and management support .... and which also then saw its B732 operated in conjunction with AIR VANUATU (from around 1982/3) in order to boost operational profitability. This same B732 was later sold to AMERICA WEST AIRLINES (N149AW) during 1985. It then saw service with POLYNESIAN again during 1986 .... before retuning to AMERICA WEST (N149AW) during 1987, and being leased to ANSETT NEW ZEALAND (ZK-NEF) from 1988 to 1989 and then returning again to AMERICA WEST (N149AW) and with whom it remained until around 2001. POLYNESIAN then operated an ANSETT B722 from 1986 until 1992 (in conjunction COOK ISLANDS INTERNATIONAL AIRLINE too between 1987 and 1988) .... followed by 2 B733's from 1992 and which also operated NIUE AIRLINES charters during this same period. These aircraft were replaced with B738's (later converted to WL's) during 2000 .... until the airlines services were operated by POLYNESIAN BLUE (under the VIRGIN BLUE banner) from 2005 .... and which became VIRGIN SAMOA from 2011 .... before evolving into SAMOA AIR during 2012 and which ceased operations during 2015.

During 1981 AIR PACIFIC (Fiji's international airline .... now FIJI AIRWAYS) acquired a B732 (DQ-FDM .... later named "Island Of Vanua Levu"). This aircraft replaced the 3 BAC ONE-ELEVEN 475's which had, since the mid 1970's, operated the airlines international services from Nadi/Fiji to Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne Rarotonga, and Sydney (predominantly) .... Fiji, like Western Samoa, also having a long established and equally thriving/successful tourism industry. AIR PACIFIC operated a single B732 .... equipped with engine Gravel Kits only. This aircraft initially supported the airlines late 1970's introduced full fuselage length rainbow stripes livery, and which was replaced, during the early 1980's, with the same colourful striping represented as broad diagonally placed rear fuselage bands .... which we all nicknamed "The Taubmans Dip Stick" livery (TAUBMANS being the name of a popular brand of commercially marketed house paint around this period). DQ-FDM served AIR PACIFIC until 1990 when it was sold to SAUDI ARAMCO (N719A) .... and replaced by B733, B735, B762ER .... as well as B741, B742, B744, B737NG equipment between the late 1980's and late 1990's.

SOLOMON AIRLINES became last of the South Pacific operators to acquire B732 equipment (an ex-CANADIAN AIRLINES INTL aircraft leased through ILFC) when it established international services during 1990 .... and which saw the airline operating from Guadalcanal to Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne Nadi, Niue Island, Noumea, Nuku'Alofa, and Port Vila (predominantly). Thereafter the Solomon Islands became quite a popular tourist destination .... particularly among US, Australian, and NZ WW2 veterans and their descendants .... the landscape/jungles/and coastlines throughout its islands being littered with remains of both allied and axis WW2 equipment that's become historic tourist attractions. The airlines B732 was also chartered by the paper NIUE AIRLINES when Niue Island began to seriously gear up for tourism during the early 1990's (around the time I came along/got involved with the islands tourism) .... and for ROYAL TONGAN AIRLINES too from 1991, but, was replaced with a B734 during 1992 .... and more recently A320 and ERJ equipment.


Mark C
AKL/NZ