Coral Sun Airways
Encyclopedia
Coral Sun Airways is one, and the younger, of the two Kiribati
airlines (next to flag carrier Air Kiribati
), established in January 2009. The airline operates domestic service to all 17 airports in the Gilbert Islands
using two Britten-Norman Islander
planes. It is considering the purchase of one new, larger aircraft, capable of flying to the Phoenix Islands
and Line Islands
. Currently, there is no domestic nor international service to these remote archipels to the east of the Gilbert Islands, having 41 and 8,809 inhabitants, respectively.
Coral Sun Airways is planning to start its first international service to the Marshallese
capital, Majuro
.
In 2011 Coral Sun Airways stated on their Homepage that operation has been temporarily ceased due to unknown reasons and that the Islanders have been sold and moved back to Australia. Coral Sun Airways still has one Piper Aztec F Model (privately owned) in operation.
The company is considering purchasing a larger plane to fly to the Phoenix
and Line Islands
. According to their website, the following aircraft types are "under study": de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
, ATR 42
, Avro RJ70, BAe 146
, and Bombardier Dash 8.
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
airlines (next to flag carrier Air Kiribati
Air Kiribati
Air Kiribati Limited is the national airline of Kiribati operating passenger services within the Gilbert Islands of Kiribati, and to Fiji. It also operates charters, medical evacuation and search and rescue services. Its main base is Bonriki International Airport, Tarawa Atoll.Until 2008, it was...
), established in January 2009. The airline operates domestic service to all 17 airports in the Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
using two Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
planes. It is considering the purchase of one new, larger aircraft, capable of flying to the Phoenix Islands
Phoenix Islands
The Phoenix Islands are a group of eight atolls and two submerged coral reefs, lying in the central Pacific Ocean east of the Gilbert Islands and west of the Line Islands. They are a part of the Republic of Kiribati. During the late 1930s they became the site of the last attempted colonial...
and Line Islands
Line Islands
The Line Islands, Teraina Islands or Equatorial Islands, is a chain of eleven atolls and low coral islands in the central Pacific Ocean, south of the Hawaiian Islands, that stretches for 2,350 km in a northwest-southeast direction, making it one of the longest islands chains of the world...
. Currently, there is no domestic nor international service to these remote archipels to the east of the Gilbert Islands, having 41 and 8,809 inhabitants, respectively.
Coral Sun Airways is planning to start its first international service to the Marshallese
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
capital, Majuro
Majuro
Majuro , is a large coral atoll of 64 islands in the Pacific Ocean, and forms a legislative district of the Ratak Chain of the Marshall Islands. The atoll itself has a land area of and encloses a lagoon of...
.
In 2011 Coral Sun Airways stated on their Homepage that operation has been temporarily ceased due to unknown reasons and that the Islanders have been sold and moved back to Australia. Coral Sun Airways still has one Piper Aztec F Model (privately owned) in operation.
Destinations
- KiribatiKiribatiKiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
- AbaiangAbaiangAbaiang, also spelled Apaiang, sometimes called Apiaia, and formerly named Charlotte Island, Matthews or Six Isles, is a coral atoll of Kiribati, located in the west-central Pacific Ocean.-Geography:...
- Abaiang Atoll AirportAbaiang Atoll AirportAbaiang Atoll Airport , often abbreviated Abaiang Airport, is the airport serving Abaiang, Kiribati. It is located on Abaiang Island, between the villages of Tabwiroa and Tuarabu .... - AbemamaAbemamaAbemama is an atoll in the central part of the Kiribati Group located 152 kilometres southeast of Tarawa and just north of the Equator.- Geography :...
- Abemama Atoll AirportAbemama Atoll AirportAbemama Atoll Airport , often abbreviated Abemama Airport, is the airport serving Abemama, Kiribati. It is located on the north of the atoll, 200 meters northeast of the village of Tabiang.... - AranukaAranukaAranuka is an atoll of Kiribati, located just north of the equator, in the Gilbert Islands...
- Aranuka AirportAranuka AirportAranuka Airport is an airport, located approximately one kilometre north of the centre of Buariki on the island of Buariki, Aranuka, Kiribati.... - AroraeAroraeArorae is an atoll in Kiribati located near the equator.- Geography :The atoll's area is 9,5 km² and has a population of about 1,225 inhabitants most of which are Protestants. The largest villages on the atoll are Roreti, Tamaroa and Taribo.The atoll is a low and flat coralline island with an...
- Arorae Island AirportArorae Island AirportArorae Island Airport is the airport serving Arorae, Kiribati. It is located in the north of the island, north of the village of Tamaroa.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Tabiteuea North, which is connected directly with the international airport at South Tarawa, but lands at Tamana too... - BeruBeru IslandBeru Island is an island located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati. Beru was previously known as Eliza, Francis Island, Maria, Peroat, Peru Island or Sunday.- Geography :...
- Beru Island AirportBeru Island AirportBeru Island Airport is the airport serving Beru Island. The island is located in the Kingsmill Group of the South Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean and is part of the Republic of Kiribati.... - ButaritariButaritariButaritari is an atoll located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati.-Geography:...
- Butaritari Atoll AirportButaritari Atoll Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific-References:* Maurer, Maurer . Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.... - Kuria - Kuria Airport
- MaianaMaianaMaiana is a district of Kiribati and an atoll in the North Gilbert Islands. The north and eastern sides of the atoll are a single island whilst the western edge consists of submerged reefs, all surrounding a lagoon...
- Maiana Airport - MakinMakin (islands)Makin is the name of a chain of islands located in the Pacific Ocean island nation of Kiribati, specifically in the Gilbert Islands.-Geography:...
- Makin Airport - MarakeiMarakeiMarakei is a small atoll in the North Gilbert Islands. The central lagoon consists of numerous deep basins and surrounded by two large islands which are separated by two narrow channels. The atoll covers an area of 13.5 km².- Geography :...
- Marakei AirportMarakei AirportMarakei Airport is the airport serving Marakei, Kiribati. It is located on the northern tip of the atoll, near the village of Rawannawi.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Abaiang on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays... - NikunauNikunauNikunau is a low coral island located in the Gilbert Islands and forms a council district of the Republic of Kiribati. The island consists of two parts which are joined by an isthmus about 150 m wide....
- Nikunau AirportNikunau AirportMarakei Airport is the airport serving Nikunau, Kiribati. It is located on the western tip of the atoll.The airport is served by Air Kiribati from Beru Island Airport on Beru Island, from which you can transfer to fly to Bonriki International Airport in Tarawa.-Airlines and destinations:... - NonoutiNonoutiNonouti is an atoll and district of Kiribati. The atoll is located in the South Gilbert Islands, 38 km north of Tabiteuea, and 250 km south of Tarawa. The eastern side of the atoll is the primary permanent landmass. There is an islet on the northwest side of the atoll called Noumatong. Noumatong...
- Nonouti Airport - OnotoaOnotoaOnotoa is an atoll and district of Kiribati. It is situated in the Gilbert Islands in the Pacific Ocean, 65 km from Tamana, the smallest island in the Gilberts....
- Onotoa Airport - Tabiteuea North - Tabiteuea North Airport
- Tabiteuea South - Tabiteuea South Airport
- TamanaTamanaTamana is the smallest island in the Gilbert Islands. It is accessible both by boat and by air with Air Kiribati and Coral Sun Airways -References:* from the Navy Art Gallery...
- Tamana Airport - Tarawa - Bonriki International AirportBonriki International Airport-See also:* USAAF in the Central Pacific...
Hub
- Abaiang
Fleet
The Coral Sun Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:- 2 Britten-Norman IslanderBritten-Norman IslanderThe Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
(sold and moved back to Australia) - 1 Piper AztecPiper Aztec-Accidents and incidents:*On 18 April 1974, Aztec G-AYDE was involved in a ground collision with BAC One-Eleven G-AXMJ at London Luton Airport after the pilot of the Aztec entered the active runway without clearance. He was killed and his passenger was injured...
F Model
The company is considering purchasing a larger plane to fly to the Phoenix
Phoenix Islands
The Phoenix Islands are a group of eight atolls and two submerged coral reefs, lying in the central Pacific Ocean east of the Gilbert Islands and west of the Line Islands. They are a part of the Republic of Kiribati. During the late 1930s they became the site of the last attempted colonial...
and Line Islands
Line Islands
The Line Islands, Teraina Islands or Equatorial Islands, is a chain of eleven atolls and low coral islands in the central Pacific Ocean, south of the Hawaiian Islands, that stretches for 2,350 km in a northwest-southeast direction, making it one of the longest islands chains of the world...
. According to their website, the following aircraft types are "under study": de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
, ATR 42
ATR 42
-Civil operators:The largest operators of the ATR-42 are FedEx Express, Airlinair, TRIP Linhas Aéreas,and Mexico City-based Aeromar respectively. Number of aircraft as of 2010:Some 70 other airlines operate smaller numbers of the type....
, Avro RJ70, BAe 146
BAe 146
The British Aerospace 146 is a medium-sized commercial airliner formerly manufactured in the United Kingdom by British Aerospace, later part of BAE Systems. Production ran from 1983 until 2002. Manufacture of an improved version known as the Avro RJ began in 1992...
, and Bombardier Dash 8.