Tonga Airport Ltd CEO Suspended

By Andrew Curran.

The Tongan Government has suspended the CEO of state-owned Tonga Airports Ltd pending a formal inquiry. Minister for Public Enterprises Paula Piukala told local outlets on October 3, 2025, that Edgar Cocker was being side lined for “misuse of power.” Cocker was appointed CEO in July 2024.

Tonga Airports Ltd operates six Tongan airports, including Fua'amotu International (TBU) on Tongatapu; Lupepauʻu International (VAV) on Vava’u; Salote Pilolevu (HPA) on Ha’apai; Kaufana (EUA) on Eua; Lavinia (NFO) on Niuatoputapu; and Mata’aho (NTT) in Niuatoputapu.

The airports vary in standard from a 2,671-metre sealed runway at Fua'amotu to an unsealed coral airstrip at Mata’aho. Tonga Airports Ltd also provides air navigation services within the country.

Nuku'alofa’s Tongan Independent newspaper calls Cocker’s suspension “a test of competence and credibility for the government” and a result of a power struggle.

Cocker has an established track record in Tonga, having previously worked as chief secretary and secretary to cabinet at the Tongan prime minister’s office; acting secretary for foreign affairs; CEO of Lulutai Airlines; CEO Ministry of Trade and Economic Development; and CEO of tourism ministry.

Tonga Airports Ltd is trying to take over ground handling operations from Air Terminal Services, a privately owned company. The ten-year groundling handling contract expired last year, and Air Terminal Services is now providing ground handling via a series of contract extensions. However, the newspaper cites local sources dismissing Tonga Airports Ltd’s take over plan as a “fantasy at 30,000 feet.”

Chief among the problems is Tonga Airports Ltd’s lack of local and international certification to run ground handling operations – a process local officials say could take up to 12 months to resolve.

“These realities should have been known and understood before the idea of TAL taking over ground handling was even whispered about,” a local official said. “It (Cocker's suspension) basically boils down to performance and not getting anything done like he said he could.”

The newspaper also suggests the relationship between Cocker and Piukala is strained, with the minister allegedly saying Cocker provided misleading information designed to make him look foolish.

Aviation in Tonga is closely linked to the government of the day and because of that, the Tongan aviation landscape is littered with the corpses of ruined careers and defunct local airlines. The latest state-owned airline, Lulutai Airlines, is struggling to survive amid ongoing financial losses, poor management, and aging aircraft.

The current prime minister, ʻAisake Eke, who took office earlier this year, is keen to get the airline on a more stable footing. Eke is also playing hardball with officials linked to former government administrations and Lulutai. Cocker, who was appointed CEO of Tonga Airports Ltd during Siaosi' Ofakivahafolau Sovaleni ‘s prime ministership, is tied to both.

The Eke administration knows it needs to reform the local aviation landscape, but cannot decide how to do so.

Eke is under pressure to resolve the uncertainty surrounding ground handling services and needs to make a decision about it. He has multiple options, including nationalising Air Terminal Services, or facilitating Tonga Airports Ltd’s proposed takeover of services. However, all cost money and will time. Currently, Tonga’s airports rely on Air Terminal Services to keep functioning, giving the company bargaining power.

Cocker’s suspension and its links to the ground handling saga are a significant story is the small kingdom of 104,000 people. Adding fuel to the fire are reports that Tonga Airports Ltd Board Chairman Tiofilusi Tiueti has also resigned.

Piukala has not disclosed the terms or timing of the inquiry into Cocker's management of Tonga Airports Ltd.

Photo: AI Generated.