Pasifika Air was a proposed New Zealand-based airline planning to operate scheduled direct passenger flights between Christchurch, New Zealand and Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Originally called "JetRaro", the airline was rebranded as Pasifika Air in December 2020.
In July 2020, Christchurch businessman Mike Pero announced his intention to incorporate the airline, subject to government approval, to form an air-link between Christchurch and the Cook Islands following the lifting of border restrictions as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The initial proposal was to operate between three and five direct flights per week between Christchurch and Rarotonga, using a wet-leased Airbus A320 aircraft. In December 2020 Pero announced plans for the airline to conduct services itself under its own air operator certificate, utilising leased 737-800's. It was also announced that flights from Wellington to the Cook Islands would be included as well as Christchurch.
The company was registered in early December 2020. Initial plans were for flights to commence in May 2021. Continued uncertainty over the New Zealand Governments approach to the opening of a quarantine-free travel "bubble" between New Zealand and the Cook Islands saw Pero announce a pause on the launch. Pero noted that much of the work required to establish the airline was complete, and would be resumed when greater certainty could be established regarding NZ/Cook Islands travel.
Pero further noted that "The company and its funds remain fully intact and we will progress our AOC to a point where we can be ready to reignite."
At the start of May 2021, the New Zealand Government finally announced the commencement of a quarantine-free travel bubble between New Zealand & the Cook Islands. The bubble opened on May 17th 2021. On May 4th, Pero announced that the launch of Pasifika Air had resumed. First flights are now expected in the 4th quarter of 2021.
On Jun 18th, Pero announced that lack of support from Cook Islands government had led to the grounding of his planned launch.
Precise details of the airlines service offering are yet to be revealed. It is expected the airlines offering to the Cook Islands will focus on a more 'premium' product.
In an interview with Radio New Zealand on May 4th, Pero noted that the planned fleet would likely consist of Boeing 737-800 aircraft, but this was subject to confirmation.
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