The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands Mark Brown says he is still open to consideration for an air link between Niue and Rarotonga.
The proposal was first made in 2022 by Air Rarotonga after the Cook Island government reopened its borders during the Covid 19 Pandemic.
But landing fees between the two countries hindered the proposal from taking flight.
The Prime Minister who arrived in Niue for the Pulefakamotu Celebrations this month on a charter flight from Rarotonga spoke to BCN News.
“I think it’s something that’s worth considering, we flew on a chartered flight with Air Raro and it may be something that New Zealand might want to consider subsidising – a flight between Rarotonga and Niue. But instead of flying by Air NZ they could use Air Raro to do the service. That’s a consideration that we would support and something for Niue to discuss with New Zealand.”
Brown said an air link could mean benefits for Niueans like not having to rely on Niue’s single flight a week to New Zealand. Instead Niueans could reconnect to New Zealand utilising Rarotonga’s daily flights.