A New Era For Air Kiribati

Air Kiribati Confirms Flight Plans For New Dash 8 Aircraft
Air Kiribati, the national airline of Kiribati in the Pacific, has received its first new Dash 8 100 series aircraft which has touched down at Bonriki International Airport from Canada on 31 October 2017 at Kiribati local time. With 37 passenger seats, the aircraft is pressurised and will have inflight cabin service.
Air Kiribati said it now needs to undertake to obtain the necessary registrations and licencing from the Kiribati civil aviation authority for the Dash 8 100 series to be utilized on domestic and short haul international routes from Tarawa. This includes over 100 hours of proving flights before it is able to initiate the aircraft’s first scheduled flight.
The Chief Executive Officer of Air Kiribati has confirmed its new Dash 8 100 Series aircraft is expected to start services at the end of November or sometime in December.
Tarataake Teannaki said Air Kiribati and the Civil Aviation Authority will complete all the necessary documentation for the aircraft including the training and completing the flight hours of its pilots and flight attendants who will be operating the aircraft before it commence services.
Today we welcome a new era for aviation in Kiribati with the arrival of Air Kiribati’s new Dash 8 100 series aircraft which has just touched down an hour ago at Bonriki International Airport having just travelled from Canada. This aircraft has the capability of taking up to 37 passengers, is pressurised and will have inflight cabin service. We look forward to providing more photos soon! As the first Dash 8 to service Kiribati, there will be a process that Air Kiribati now needs to undertake to obtain the necessary registrations and licencing. This includes over 100 hours of proving flights before we are able to accept our first guests. Exciting times ahead and we look forward to keeping you up to date with the information about when we start our first passenger operations.
Teannaki said the arrival of the Dash 8 aircraft will solve all the flight concerns of the people in the Southern Gilbert Islands through its main flight hub in Tabiteuea North.
 
The Dash 8 is expected to fly to Tabiteuea North, pick up passengers from the Southern Gilbert Islands who will be flown to Tabiteuea North via Air Kiribati’s smaller aircraft stationed on the island to pick passengers from the Southern Gilberts and vice versa.
Teannaki said the only four outer islands where the Dash 8 aircraft can land are Tabiteuea North, Abemama, Butaritari and Nikunau.
 
The aircraft will also make international flights to neighbouring Marshall Islands and Tuvalu.
 
(Source: Kiribati – Airline: Radio Kiribati 01 November 2017)