Air Naua Roa

Air Naua Roa

IATA ICAO Callsign NA ANR PATRICK
Commenced operations	7 October 1999 (1999-10-07)
Hubs	Patrick's Town International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	Dolphin Club
Alliance	GLOBE (affiliate)
Fleet size	7
Destinations	10
Parent company	Government of Naua Roa (40%) Satavian Airlines (40%)
Headquarters	Cape House, 27 Karagiu Road, Patrick's Town
Key people	Dara Miao'iu, Chairman Henry Macanally, CEO
Employees	<100
Website	airnauaroa.pi

Air Naua Roa is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Patrick Islands. Founded in 1999, Air Naua Roa services domestic destinations from its hub at Patrick's Town International Airport and also services some destinations on the west coast of Satavia, which are internationally considered as domestic routes. Air Naua Roa was founded in 1999 by businessman Dara Miao'iu, with one fifteen-year-old Boeing 737-300 aircraft, purchased outright from MackAir. Air Naua Roa operated its first flight on 7 October 1999, with a bi-weekly rotation from Patrick's Town (at the time departing from Daga Roa Naval Base) to Victoriaburg Fort Zilverzee International Airport. In 2017, Satavian Airlines acquired a 15% stake in the airline, before increasing to 33% in 2019 and a 40% stake in 2020, whilst the Government of Naua Roa remains the only other significant stakeholder, with a 40% stake acquired in 2008.

Since its foundation, the airline has grown to a fleet size of seven aircraft, operating four ATR 42, two Boeing 737-800 and one Boeing 787-8 example. The airline is an affiliated member of the GLOBE group, and its association with Satavian Airlines extends to the shared use of its frequent flyer programme, the Dolphin Club, as well as an extensive codeshare agreement.

History

Air Naua Roa B737-800 (SX-DMA) taxiing at Patrick's Town International Airport

Air Naua Roa commenced operations on 7 October 1999 when businessman Dara Miao'iu purchased a fifteen-year-old Boeing 737-300 from MackAir, a minor travel operator. Air Naua Roa operated its first flight on 7 October 1999, launching a bi-weekly rotation from Patrick's Town to Victoriaburg. In 2001, the airline expanded when it purchased Air Patrik, the only other Naua Roan airline, and acquired its Cessna aircraft fleet and began operating inter-island flights, serving Port Waga on Greater Patrick, Rapa Bay on Little Patrick, in addition to several flights within Middle Patrick; the Patrick's Town-Daga Roa connection is the shortest scheduled passenger flight in the world (with an average total air time of approximately three minutes). In 2004, the airline suffered its only fatal accident to date when a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (SX-LAM) crashed into Mount Lochie whilst on approach to Karewaguna Airfield in thick fog; the accident was attributed to pilot error, and all six passengers and both pilots were killed. In 2008, following several years of financial difficulty, and the impact of the 2005 financial recession on tourism, the Government of Naua Roa acquired a 40% stake in the company for an undisclosed price from Miao'iu. The airline was the sole airline operating within Naua Roa until Satavian Airlines inaugurated its seasonal Port Hope/O'Connell-Daga Roa flight in 2012, operated by an Airbus A320-200. Satavian Airlines would acquire a 15% stake in 2017, whilst it also signed an interlining agreement with Air Naua Roa at the same time. When Satavian Airlines increased its stake to 33% in 2019, it began codesharing select routes flying to and from Naua Roa to the Satavian mainland. With the injection of capital, the airline began a rapid expansion programme that saw the prop planes formerly Later that year, Air Naua Roa also became an affiliate member of GLOBE through its expanded association with GLOBE co-founder Satavian Airlines. In 2020, Satavian increased its stake to 40%. The airline began a rebrand in 2021, which involved a new livery design, marketing campaign and refitting of the airline's fleet. This was completed in late 2022.

Corporate Affairs

Air Naua Roa is not publicly traded, and the founder and Chairman of the Board, Dara Miao'iu, retains 20% of the airline whilst the Government of Naua Roa and Satavian Airlines both hold a 40% stake. The airline is headquartered at Cape House in Patrick's Town and operates out of Patrick's Town International Airport. The airline's revenue is not publicly disclosed as it is not required under Naua Roa law.

Henry Macanally, the former CEO of low-cost Estmerish airline easyAir, was appointed CEO in April 2019 and replaced Morayo Nduli, who had become CEO at FlyBlu.

Destinations

Furthermore, Air Naua Roa maintains codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Satavian Airlines
• Satavian Express
• Vlugwell

Fleet

Air Naua Roa operates a mixed fleet of seven aircraft. It also previously operated a fleet of Cessna and Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft, but sold them in favour of ATR aircraft throughout the mid 2010s.

Air Naua Roa Fleet

Aircraft	In Service	Orders	Passengers			Notes
			C	Y	Total
ATR 42	4	—	—	42	42
Boeing 737-800	2	—	12	154	166
Boeing 787-8	1	—	22	208	230	Leased from ANZEST, formerly owned by Estmair
Total	7	—

Incidents & Accidents

Air Naua Roa has a moderately clean safety record and has recorded only one fatal accident with eight fatalities since the airline commenced operations in 1999. Air Naua Roa's safety record has improved since the Government of Naua Roa acquired a minority stake in the company in 2008.

• On 15 March 2001, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (SX-PIA) was forced to make an emergency landing after the front nose gear collapsed mid-air.
• On 26 December 2004, a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander (SX-LAM) crashed into Mount Lochie whilst on approach to Karewaguna Airfield resulting in the loss of all eight people onboard the aircraft. The accident was later attributed to pilot error caused by adverse weather conditions that lead to controlled flight into terrain.
• On 4 April 2013, an ATR 42 (SX-PAC) collided with a Satavian Air Force Grumman F-14 Tomcat, resulting in damage of over €12 million to the fighter aircraft. The incident was attributed to controller error at Daga Roa Naval Base.
• On 21 September 2021, a Boeing 737-800 (SX-DMA) was forced to make an emergency landing after a mentally ill passenger threatened to detonate an explosive device on the aircraft. Bomb disposal units at Victoriaburg Fort Zilverzee International Airport found no evidence of any explosive devices on the aircraft.