President Hilda Heine climbs the stairway of Air Marshall Islands new US-made Cessna SkyCourier for the first time following its arrival last week, as airline CEO Albon Jelke looks on.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Giff Johnson
The first of two new American-made aircraft – the Cessna SkyCourier – arrived last Thursday and was officially blessed earlier this week at the Air Marshall Islands hangar.
The plane was hailed as a model of cooperation among the Marshall Islands, Taiwan and the United States.
“For many, this may look like just an aircraft,” Air Marshall Islands CEO Albon Jelke said.
“But for … the people of the Marshall Islands it means so much more.”
With the reliability of two new aircraft – the second Cessna is to arrive in about a month – “a mother in an outer island can reach medical care in time,” Jelke said.
“A student can travel to pursue education … essential goods can reach communities that depend on them.”
The Cessna has the same number of seats – 19 – as the aging German-built Dorniers. But it can carry 5000 pounds more cargo than a Dornier. The national airline has relied for 40 years on no longer manufactured Dornier 228s as the backbone of its domestic service.
“Today, with the arrival of this first Cessna SkyCourier, we begin a new chapter defined by action, not excuses,” President Hilda Heine said.
“This aircraft is a workhorse for the nation. Equipped with 19 seats and expanded cargo capacity, this aircraft is designed for the realities of our islands. It strengthens safety, reduces maintenance burdens, and restores the reliability our communities deserve.”
She added her hope that the new planes will “restore the pride of ‘Little Amy’ (a reference to the airline’s acronym, AMI) and permanently retire the old nickname ‘Air Maybe.'”
Air Marshall Islands staff performed several dances to welcome the new Cessna SkyCourier to the Marshall Islands during a blessing ceremony earlier this week in Majuro.
Photo: RNZ Pacific / Giff Johnson
Taiwan provided a concessional low-interest loan of $20.3 million to buy the new planes. The US is injecting $8.3 million, which is going to pay down the loan, leaving AMI with a $12m debt.
The Taiwan loan allows a five-year grace period on repayment, and 20 years to repay the balance at a rate of 1.5 percent interest per year.
In an interview, Finance Minister David Paul said, “Servicing the RMI market can generate the money needed for the loan payback,” adding that the increased payload of the plane will make a huge difference for revenue generation.
“The investment will pay for itself,” he said.
Both Taiwan ambassador Herbert Hsu and US Embassy chargĂ© Gregory D’Alesandro hailed the cooperation making the plane purchase possible.
Hsu said during Taiwan President Lai Ching-Te’s state visit to Marhsall Islands in 2024, “Taiwan committed to supporting the Marshall Islands in enhancing its domestic air connectivity.”
“Taiwan’s International Cooperation and Development Fund is providing the loan. He noted the United States support for the Cessna, pointing out that “this reflects the close cooperation between Taiwan and the United States in supporting the Marshall Islands.”
“Just over a year ago, this was an idea – a recognition that the status quo was not sustainable, and that something had to change,” D’Alesandro said.
“What followed was cooperation. Leadership from President Heine and her government. Close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry of Finance. Commitment from Air Marshall Islands. Strong support from Taiwan, which stepped forward with financing to make this effort viable. And support from the United States, engaging the US private sector.
“And yes … hard work from the people who built this aircraft and trained the pilots who will fly it. That is what partnership looks like.”
Heine honoured the country’s founding father, who established Air Marshall Islands in 1980.
“President Amata Kabua and the early members of the Nitijela (parliament) understood that a nation of islands could not truly be one people if separated by the waves,” Heine said.
The goal behind purchasing the new Cessnas carries the same purpose as those of the ancient navigators who sailed outrigger canoes connecting island communities, Heine said.
“To keep our people connected, to keep our nation whole, and to ensure that no Marshallese community is ever left behind.”
