Air Kiribati

Until 2008, it was the only airline to offer flights domestically.

In January 2009, a new Kiribati based airline was established, Coral Sun Airways, with charter flights within the Gilbert Islands (Western region of Kiribati). Coral Sun Airways are also the only Kiribati-registered airline to operate between Gilbert Islands and Line Islands (Eastern Region of Kiribati) since Air Kiribati stopped using their ATR-72.

Air Kiribati is governed by a Board which directly reports to Hon. Willie TOKATAAKE the Minister for Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development (MICTTD).[13]

Air Kiribatu is 100% owned by the Government of Kiribati.[14]

In February 2020 Captain Philip Statham became CEO [after Tarataake TEANNAKI moved to become Secretary for Information, Communications, Transport and Tourism Development[15] ].

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:[16]

1. Aircraft Security Act 1990[17]
2. Civil Aviation Act 2004[18]

The actual regulations used are primarily from New Zealand, the NZCAR's.[16]

Air Kiribati operates domestic flights linking all the Gilbert Islands, the Line Islands and Phoenix Islands, with 41,000 and 8,809 inhabitants, respectively are too far from the Gilbert Islands to be considered commercially viable to serve these from Tarawa although Air Kiribati's only rival airline, domestic Coral Sun Airways, was examining the purchase of a new aircraft capable of flying Tarawa-Kiritimati.

It is possible to fly Tarawa to Kiritimati, but mainly via Nadi, Fiji. There are some direct fights chartered by Air Kiribati for students during holidays.

• 
  T3-ATI (Y12)
• 
  T3-AKL (DHC-6 "Twin Otter")
• 
  T3-ATR - no longer in use
• 
  CASA 212 now retired (left aircraft)

In December 2019,[22] the first Embraer E190-E2, in Air Kiribati livery [23], 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.[24]

The Embraer E190-E2 has a maximum range of 5,278 km (2,850 nm). 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. [25]

Air Kiribati acting CEO Danial Rochford previously pointed out that "the type's increased range deemed it a "perfect choice" for the carrier." [26] Acting CEO Danial Rochford says that the E190-E2 will offer “opportunities to fly from Australia and New Zealand direct to Kiribati”.[27]

Cesar Pereira, Asia Pacific Vice President of Embraer Commercial Aviation said “We warmly welcome Air Kiribati to the Embraer family and we will work closely with the airline as they transition to the E190-E2 through our extensive entry-into-service package and world-class support team in the region, Flying in the Pacific, over large bodies of water, requires outstanding range, performance and ample cargo capacity.[28]

The E190-E2 is able to operate every required route in the Air Kiribati network [29] 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. [30]

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."[31]

In December 2007, the Kiribati Government approved a request by Air Kiribati to purchase two Canadian made Twin Otter aircraft.[32] 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.[33]

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.[34] It is operating a once-a-week service between Tarawa and Funafuti from 21 March 2018.[35]

Acting CEO Danial Rochford said “We are very excited to reconnect Kiribati and Tuvalu with this once a week service using our Dash 8 aircraft. These two nations have strong traditional ties and we are confident that the service will be well supported. We are thrilled to play a role in foster greater access for economic development and trade as well as facilitate increased tourism for our island nations”.[36]

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.[37]