Air Kiribati

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Air Kiribati

| image = Air Kiribati logo.svg

| IATA = IK

| ICAO = AKL

| callsign = AIR KIRIBATI

| aoc =

| founded = 1995

| bases = Bonriki International Airport

| hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| fleet_size = 6

| destinations = 20

| parent = Air Kiribati Ltd.

| headquarters = Bonriki, South Tarawa, Kiribati

| key_people = Acting CEO Mr Kobebe Taitai {{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

| num_employees = 71

| website = http://www.airkiribati.com.ki

}}

Air Kiribati (pronounced {{IPAc-en|ɛər|_|ˈ|k|ɪr|ᵻ|b|æ|s}} {{respell|air|_|KIRR|ib|ass}}){{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/kiribati|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031113949/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/kiribati|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 31, 2019|title=Correct pronunciation of Kiribati i.e. Kiri'bas|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} is the flag carrier of the Republic of Kiribati{{Cite web|url=http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/|title=Air Kiribati - National Flag Carrier of Republic of Kiribati|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} and operates scheduled passenger services to 20 atolls spread over an area of {{convert|3.5|e6sqkm|sqmi}}.

It is headquartered at Bonriki International Airport on the island of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. Regional charter flights, medical evacuation, as well as search and rescue services are also undertaken by the airline.{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/air-kiribati-ik|title = Air Kiribati Airline Profile | CAPA}}

History

File:Air Kiribati.jpg

Air Kiribati was first established as Air Tungaru in 1977. The airline served all 16 domestic airports in Kiribati as well as Honolulu and Papeete with a Boeing 727. In 1996 Air Tungaru ceased operations and Air Kiribati was established to mainly service domestic points in Kiribati with a slew of smaller regional airliners. In 2002 the airlines first ATR 72–500 entered service, but was retired in 2004. In 2016, Air Kiribati also commenced domestic operations in the Line Islands, servicing both Washington and Fanning islands from Kiritimati. In 2017 Air Kiribati's first De Havilland Canada Dash 8-106 was delivered and in 2019 the first of two Embraer E190-E2s was delivered to Air Kiribati.

Corporate affairs

= Board =

Air Kiribati is governed by a board which directly reports to Tekeeua Tarati, the Minister for Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD).{{Cite web|url=http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/our-history|title=Board at Air Kiribati|access-date=2019-10-30|archive-date=2020-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708204333/http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/our-history|url-status=dead}}

Air Kiribati is 100% owned by the Government of Kiribati.{{Cite web|url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/air-kiribati-ik|title=100% government-owned CAPA}}

= CEO =

On 31 July Kobebe Taitai was appointed as acting CEO.

In February 2020 Captain Philip Statham became CEO after Tarataake Teannaki moved to become Secretary for Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.southpacificislands.travel/new-transport-micttd-secretary-sworn/|title=Tarataake move to MICTTD}} Air Kiribati is looking for a new CEO, after position vacant, since August 2021. The position is currently only open to Kiribati nationals.

= Regulatory oversight =

The Civil Aviation Authority of Kiribati known as a Civil Aviation Division is one of the Governmental divisions under the Ministry of Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD) and is responsible for all Aviation activities in the country. The primary aviation legislation used are:{{Cite web|url=https://www.micttd.gov.ki/about-us/aviation|title=Kiribati Aviation Regulations|access-date=2019-10-30|archive-date=2020-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023021327/https://www.micttd.gov.ki/about-us/aviation|url-status=dead}}

Aircraft Security Act 1990{{Cite web|url=http://www.paclii.org/ki/legis/num_act/asa1990201.rtf|title=Aviation Security Act 1990 as RTF}}
Civil Aviation Act 2004{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.ki/docs/acts/2004/CivilAviationindex.pdf|title=Kiribati Civil Aviation Act 2004 as PDF|access-date=2019-10-30|archive-date=2019-11-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191114074806/http://www.parliament.gov.ki/docs/acts/2004/CivilAviationindex.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The actual regulations used are primarily from New Zealand, the NZCARs.

Destinations

As of 2022, Air Kiribati serves these destinations:

= Interline agreements =

Air Kiribati currently has Interline partnerships with the following airlines:

Nauru Airlineshttps://www.nauruair.com#:~:text=Flights%20to%20Kiritimati%20(Christmas%20Island,%2C%20Majuro%2C%20Pohnpei%20and%20Koror.
Solomon Airlineshttps://www.flysolomons.com/about-us/news/new-services-and-partnerships/ik-ie-sign-new-aviation-agreement

Fleet

As of January 2024, the Air Kiribati fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{Cite web|url=https://airkiribati.com.ki/our-fleet/|title=Our Fleet - Air Kiribati|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=2024-01-25}}

File:Avion de Air Kiribati.jpg

class="wikitable" \|+Air Kiribati fleet{{Cite web \|date=2025-01-27 \|title=Air Kiribati Fleet Details and History \|url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Air-Kiribati \|access-date=2025-02-14 \|website=Planespotters.net \|language=en}} !Aircraft !In service !Orders !Passengers (B/E) !Notes
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter \|4 \|— \| rowspan="2" \|19 \|One leased from Hevilift PNG
De Havilland Canada DHC-6-400 Twin Otter \|1 \|— \|
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 \|1 \|— \|37 \|Leased from Avmax Group
Embraer E190-E2 \|— \|1 \|92 (12/80) \|To be operated by Nauru Airlines
Total !6 !1

class="wikitable"

|+Air Kiribati fleet{{Cite web |date=2025-01-27 |title=Air Kiribati Fleet Details and History |url=https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Air-Kiribati |access-date=2025-02-14 |website=Planespotters.net |language=en}}

!Aircraft

!In service

!Orders

!Passengers (B/E)

!Notes

De Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter

|—

| rowspan="2" |19

|One leased from Hevilift PNG

De Havilland Canada DHC-6-400 Twin Otter

|—

De Havilland Canada DHC-8-100

|—

|37

|Leased from Avmax Group

Embraer E190-E2

|—

|92 (12/80)

|To be operated by Nauru Airlines

Total

=Fleet development=

== Embraer E190-E2 ==

In December 2019,{{Cite web|url=http://www.pionair.com.au/|title=Pionair Charter Airline website|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} the first Embraer E190-E2, in Air Kiribati livery,{{Cite web|url=https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/air-kiribati-orders-four-embraer-e190-e2s/|title=Air Kiribati Livery|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=|archive-date=2019-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029194214/https://airwaysmag.com/airlines/air-kiribati-orders-four-embraer-e190-e2s/|url-status=dead}} was delivered to the airline. The E190-E2 has been certified and registered to the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) since the beginning of 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.casa.gov.au/aircraft-register|title=E190-E2 CASA aircraft registry|last=|first=|date=2 September 2021|website=|access-date=}}

The Embraer E190-E2 has a maximum range of {{convert|5,278|km|mi nmi|0}}. It retains cockpit commonality with its predecessor - E190. E190 pilots will only require a 2.5 days transition training with no flight simulator time needed to be able to fly the E190-E2.{{Cite web|url=https://airinsight.com/an-update-on-the-e2-program-at-embraer/|title=An Update on the E2 Program at Embraer » AirInsight|date=2018-04-06|website=AirInsight|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-20}}

Air Kiribati acting CEO Danial Rochford previously pointed out that "the type's increased range deemed it a "perfect choice" for the carrier."{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/79768-air-kiribati-eyes-direct-australia-nz-ops-with-e2s|title=CEO Danial Rochford says E190-E2 is perfect choice for Air Kiribati|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} Acting CEO Danial Rochford says that the E190-E2 will offer “opportunities to fly from Australia and New Zealand direct to Kiribati”.{{Cite web|url=https://blueswandaily.com/air-kiribati-gm-e190-e2-gives-us-opportunities-to-fly-direct-to-australia-and-new-zealand/|title=Direct flights Australia NZ to Kiribati|last=|first=|date=8 July 2019|website=|access-date=}}

The E190-E2 is able to operate every required route in the Air Kiribati network when it receives ETOPS 120 minutes certification {{Cite web|url=https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/02/smooth-operator-embraer-has-eyes-on-the-prize/|title='Smooth operator' Embraer has eyes on the prize|date=2019-02-26|website=Australian Aviation|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-02-20}} and also allow the airline to operate longer-haul domestic and international routes including connections that had so far been beyond the reach of its current fleet of turboprops.{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/airlines/air-kiribati-takes-delivery-of-first-embraer-190-e2/135961.article

|title=Air Kiribati takes delivery of first Embraer 190-E2

|last=Wolfsteller |first=Pilar

|date=30 Dec 2019 |website=Flight Global |language=en

|access-date=2024-09-05}}

The Kiribati Transport Minister stated: "non-stop operations between the capital Tarawa and Kiritmati (Christmas) island [sic] currently requires an international stop in Fiji. With a range of 2,850 nautical miles, the E190-E2 can operate throughout the country with non-stop routes."{{Cite web|url=https://airinsight.com/air-kiribati-orders-e190-e2/|title=last paragraph - Tarawa to Kiritimati Island|last=|first=|date=18 December 2018|website=|access-date=}}

However, the first of 2 Embraer E190-E2's wasn't taken up and never entered passenger service, eventually ended up with the operator, Pionair Australia.{{cite web |url=https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/embraer-e190-e2-vh-ikj-pionair-australia/ellxon

|title=VH-IKJ Pionair Australia Embraer E190-E2

|website=planespotters.net |access-date=5 Sep 2024}}

== Domestic Twin Otter ==

In December 2007, the Kiribati Government approved a request by Air Kiribati to purchase two Canadian-made Twin Otter aircraft.[http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=37232 Kiribati government gives their national airline the green light to purchase planes]. Radio New Zealand International, 12–26 December 2007. Retrieved on 2008-09-16. Each plane is reported to cost US$3.3 million, but Air Kiribati's previous CEO Baraniko Baaro reports the purchase is a wise move which will save money currently used for the frequent repairs the aging air fleet requires. In addition, the new planes boast higher fuel efficiency, have room for more passengers and cargo and require less runway length than the current fleet, which may be of benefit on the airstrips of Kiribati's outer islands.[http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/12/22/air-kiribati-to-acquire-two-twin-otters Air Kiribati To Acquire Two Twin Otters] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070614094204/http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2007/12/22/air-kiribati-to-acquire-two-twin-otters |date=2007-06-14 }}. Pacific Magazine, 12–22 December 2007. Retrieved on 2008-09-16.

== Regional Dash 8 ==

Air Kiribati has received its first new Dash 8 100 series aircraft, which touched down at Bonriki International Airport from Canada on 31 October 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://blueswandaily.com/air-kiribati-welcomes-its-latest-aircraft/|title=Blue Swan Daily article|last=|first=|date=31 October 2017|website=|access-date=}}

Tarataake Teannaki (a previous CEO) said "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.{{Cite web|url=https://corporate.southpacificislands.travel/air-kiribati-confirms-flight-plans-new-dash-8-aircraft/|title=Dash 8 service PR|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}

The aircraft is no longer in service.

ATR 72

On 29 May 2002, Air Kiribati received an ATR 72-202, leased from ATRiam Capital. Air Kiribati operated the aircraft until March 2004, when it was returned to ATRiam Capital.{{Cite web |title=M-ABJM N.D.R Warehousing Private Limited ATR 72 |url=https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/atr-72-m-abjm-ndr-warehousing-private-limited/3w8mw0 |access-date=2023-02-19 |website=www.planespotters.net |language=en}}