Nauru Airlines?

[DrA]

I've just read that Nauru Airlines is modifying their flight route, and will now be flying to Truk (TKK) as one of their island hops ex-BNE. As a diver, this is of great interest to me, because the United island hopper out of Guam kind of sucks, and anything that breaks their monopoly on the Micronesia island hopper route can only be a good thing...In theory.

Has anyone ever actually flown with Nauru Airlines? Any comments on their safety record? On time performance? I don't want to go booking something with them if it's just going to be a case of them being worse than United.

Thanks in advance

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I've just read that Nauru Airlines is modifying their flight route, and will now be flying to Truk (TKK) as one of their island hops ex-BNE. As a diver, this is of great interest to me, because the United island hopper out of Guam kind of sucks, and anything that breaks their monopoly on the Micronesia island hopper route can only be a good thing...In theory.

Has anyone ever actually flown with Nauru Airlines? Any comments on their safety record? On time performance? I don't want to go booking something with them if it's just going to be a case of them being worse than United.

Thanks in advance

I actually though Nauru Airlines had just one plane that went to Air Vanuatu........no idea where I got that idea from.......shows you shouldn't ever listen to me!

 

[DrA]

The new route (as of 20 Nov, 2015):

Friday
Depart Brisbane 01:00 to Honiara 05:30
Depart Honiara 06:15 to Nauru 09:05
Depart Nauru 11:15 to Tarawa 12:30
Depart Tarawa 13:15 to Majuro 14:30
Depart Majuro 15:15 to Kosrae 15:45
Depart Kosrae 16:30 to Pohnpei 17:30
Depart Pohnpei 18:30 to Chuuk 18:50

Sunday
Depart Chuuk 02:40 to Pohnpei 05:00
Depart Pohnpei 06:00 to Kosrae 07:00
Depart Kosrae 07:45 to Majuro 10:15
Depart Majuro 11:00 to Tarawa 12:15
Depart Tarawa 12:55 to Nauru 14:10
Depart Nauru 15:00 to Honiara 15:50
Depart Honiara 17:30 to Brisbane 19:45

 

[N860CR]

I think I'd potentially have killed myself before arrival at Chuuk

 

[Denali]

Problem being, how reliable will the be?

I remember a PNG or Solomons flight once and the wives of government officials sat on the tarmac, blocking the flight take off until they were told they can take the plane (to Melbourne?) to go shopping later that week.

Considering Nauru's history and their financial state - I would put more faith in a Tiger flight taking off on time over a Nauru flight.

But. I do welcome another option to get into Micronesia but you need a plan B for just in case.

 

[DrA]

I think I'd potentially have killed myself before arrival at Chuuk

Yeah, I get that...

But United has cancelled the Cairns-Guam flight route. Which means stuffing around with connections to Guam via Manila or Tokyo - neither of which are particularly convenient for me to get to from where I live - in order to make the United Micronesia island hopper to Chuuk. I could drive to Cairns in a few hours after work and be there in time for the late night flight to Guam with only a few hours layover required. The schedule to get there with United is only marginally better than the one with Nauru Airlines.

Problem being, how reliable will the be?

I remember a PNG or Solomons flight once and the wives of government officials sat on the tarmac, blocking the flight take off until they were told they can take the plane (to Melbourne?) to go shopping later that week.

Considering Nauru's history and their financial state - I would put more faith in a Tiger flight taking off on time over a Nauru flight.

But. I do welcome another option to get into Micronesia but you need a plan B for just in case.

Yeah, wondering about reliability. I had so many problems with United on my last trip to Chuuk in June, so am wondering if this new option is really going to be any better (or worse)?

 

[Simsy85]

Nauru Airlines I think was formally called Our Airline - good luck though, in an attempt to keep journo's out, a visa is like $8k

 

[DrA]

Nauru Airlines I think was formally called Our Airline - good luck though, in an attempt to keep journo's out, a visa is like $8k

Presumably one does not need a visa for Nauru if one is physically staying on the plane during the stopover and not actually entering the country...

I don't intend to go to Nauru at all, it's just a potential option for getting to Micronesia

 

[puppysparkes]

I've just read that Nauru Airlines is modifying their flight route, and will now be flying to Truk (TKK) as one of their island hops ex-BNE. As a diver, this is of great interest to me, because the United island hopper out of Guam kind of sucks, and anything that breaks their monopoly on the Micronesia island hopper route can only be a good thing...In theory.

Has anyone ever actually flown with Nauru Airlines? Any comments on their safety record? On time performance? I don't want to go booking something with them if it's just going to be a case of them being worse than United.

Thanks in advance

My partner worked FIFO in Nauru and flew with them often. Basically the plane flew when important people wanted it to. People would make holiday plans based on the flight schedule only to have everything thrown into disarray. The flights were often late arriving into oz. The plane would also stopover in the Solomons to refuel; allegedly because of poor fuel quality in Nauru. I suggest travel insurance or consider another airline.

Cheers

 

[DrA]

So United in all its misery is probably still going to be the better option for Micronesia.

*sigh*

 

[Mattg]

Could you try UA out and Nauru Airlines back and then decide on which is best?

 

[eastwest101]

So United in all its misery is probably still going to be the better option for Micronesia.

*sigh*

If you had enough diving mates, then (I know it sounds crazy at first appearance), but could chartering an aircraft be viable if you all want to go to the same place at the same time?There would be several Australian or PNG bases charter carriers that could be worth an enquiry. The cost and PITA considerations of UA transferring at Guam and Manilla/Tokyo almost or the vagaries of transiting via Fiji or flying Air Naru almost makes chartering look sensible....

 

[Mattg]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but I just noticed Air Niugini is starting direct flights from POM to TKK from December. This should enable easier connections from Cairns, Brisbane and Sydney to Chuuk, with just one stop in Papua New Guinea.

Air Niugini plans Micronesia service from Dec 2016 :: Routesonline