The inaugural Fiji Airways charter flight from Nadi to Rarotonga touched down at Rarotonga International Airport at midnight on Sunday, with nine Pacific leaders and their delegations arriving for the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting.

Nine Pacific leaders – including two prime ministers and five presidents – and their delegations received a traditional welcome at Rarotonga International Airport early on Monday.

Prime Minister of Samoa Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands David Kabua, President of Nauru David Adeang, President of Federated States of Micronesia Wesley Simina, President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau, President of Wallis and Futuna Munipoese Muli’aka’ak, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change Adaptation Ralph Regenvanu, and Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele arrived on the inaugural flight.

All the leaders were received by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) staff and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Tapaitau. They received a special gate-side event that included live music and entertainment, a traditional blessing and prayer, and special remarks from Tapaitau and Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, Kairangi Samuela.

Fiji Prime Minister Rabuka also took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the arrival of the inaugural charter flight.

The visitors received a special gate-side event that included live music and entertainment from the pictured dancers. MELINA ETCHES/23110612

Former Fiji Airways staff member Naitini Waqa, who now works at a hotel in Rarotonga, hopes the inaugural flight will not be a one-off.

“It would be really good to at least have a direct flight every once a month,” Waqa said. “It will benefit Fijians to travel home and visit their loved ones and families, and to visit Rarotonga. It will also be good for our Cook Islands family to get a chance to see Fiji.”

Fijians residing in Rarotonga turned up in numbers to welcome their Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. MELINA ETCHES/ 23110620

Cook Islands News staff member Natasha Datt was on board the flight on its return leg to Nadi, Fiji, around 1:30am on Monday.

Datt said the flight saved her time and the need to apply for a transit visa to travel through New Zealand.

She congratulated Fiji Airways for their service and thanked the Cook Islands Government for the direct charter flight to and from Fiji.

• Losirene Lacanivalu/MFAI