Unpacking Nauru Airlines' MOU with Air Marshall Islands

The Nauru Government has released further details about the memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently signed by Nauru Airlines and Air Marshall Islands, as well as a separate memorandum of understanding signed by the Nauru, Marshall Islands, and Palau Governments to improve cargo flows in the Southwest Pacific.

Aero South Pacific reported on the MOU between Nauru Airlines and Majuro-based Air Marshall Islands. Broadly, it aims to strengthen ties between the carriers, improve regional aviation resilience, connectivity, and service quality, and increase the sharing of technical and professional capacities.

As reported in the Nauru Bulletin late last week, key elements of the agreement will include interline ticketing arrangements, harmonisation of flight schedules, reciprocally acting as general sales agents in each other’s markets, and shared procurement, staff travel privileges, and charter coordination.

Additionally, the memorandum of understanding will see Air Marshall Islands act as ground agents for Nauru Airlines at Majuro Airport (MAJ). The airlines will also co-ordinate on charter and ad hoc services, including capacity allocation and operational planning.

Both airlines will also establish a joint pilot cadetship program. Presently, six cadets are working their way through the program.

In the future, there may be scope to cooperate on operational control centre assistance, situational monitoring, communications support, and continuity planning.

Both Nauru Airlines and Air Marshall Islands say the agreement will to help address the “unique operating requirements faced by Pacific island carriers,” including infrastructure constraints and a shortage of skilled workers.

Air Marshall Islands is owned by the Marshall Islands Government. The airline operates the two Dornier 228-212 aircraft and two DHC-8- 100s. It has also ordered three 19-seater Cessna Sky Courier 408s with the first aircraft scheduled for delivery in December 2025, the second in the first quarter 2026 and the third to arrive in 2027.

Nauru Airlines is the national carrier of Nauru. The airline operates a fleet of seven Boeing 737 aircraft, including four dedicated to freight operations, and three operating as passenger aircraft.

While Air Marshall Islands does not fly to Nauru, Nauru Airlines does fly to Majuro as part of its island hopper service that links Brisbane (BNE) to Clark (CRK) via Nauru (INU), Tarawa (TRW), Majuro, Pohnpei (PNI), and Palau (ROR).

At the same time that Nauru Airlines and Air Marshall Islands inked their memorandum of understanding, the governments of Nauru, Marshall Islands and Palau also signed a MOU. This agreement seeks to improve cargo flows between the three countries, largely by better using the island hopper service.

Specifically, the inter-governmental agreement will work on better coordination and scheduling of cargo operations on the island hopper route, focusing on the timely delivery of medical supplies, food, ecommerce parcels, and government material, as well as examining digital cargo tracking technologies to improve transparency and efficiency.

The governments will also set up a regional cargo coordination committee to oversee implementation and facilitate customs and regulatory exchanges.

Meanwhile, the Nauruan government minister responsible for Nauru Airlines, Asterio Appi, confirmed that the airline had recently completed its 2025 IOSA renewal audit and successfully renewed its accreditation.

He says that accreditation is necessary if Nauru Airlines wants to continue signing interline and code sharing partnerships with other airlines. Appi says this is critical if the airline wants to generate more passenger bookings and increase its market share.

Photo: Nauru Airlines.