THE Cook Islands is bucking the global trend by expanding its flight connectivity, Deputy Prime Minister Albert Nicholas told delegates at the opening of ASPA’s 44th AGM and 81st General Session conference today.
Speaking at the event hosted in the Cook Islands, Nicholas welcomed international partners under the conference theme “Island Economics,” emphasising that for Pacific Island nations, aviation and tourism are inseparable.
“For island nations like ours, aviation and tourism are deeply connected. One cannot succeed without the other,” Nicholas said. “For many of our communities across the Pacific, those partnerships are not simply commercial relationships. They support livelihoods, economic resilience and future opportunities.”
The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted recent milestones, including Jetstar’s inaugural Brisbane–Rarotonga service and the upcoming launch of a direct South Island service from New Zealand. He noted that Australia is forecast to deliver nearly 55,000 visitors in 2026—almost double pre-pandemic levels—while New Zealand remains the largest market with more than 120,000 expected visitors this calendar year.
“There’s a global trend of weeding out flights globally, but here in the Cook Islands, it’s going the other way. We’re actually adding more flights to the destination,” Nicholas said. “So, it must be something we know that the rest of you don’t.”
The Cook Islands operates without a government-owned national carrier, a fact Nicholas described as “good riddance,” saying the nation has instead learned to thrive through strategic collaboration between airlines, governments, tourism operators and communities.
However, he cautioned that growth must be carefully managed, pointing to the Cook Islands Destination Stewardship Plan as a guide for sustainable development. “With great power comes great responsibility,” he said. “Growth only matters if it continues to deliver for our people, communities and our future generations.”
He urged delegates to use the conference not only to discuss aviation challenges, but also to strengthen relationships. “Visitors may first arrive because of a flight, but they return because of people, experiences, culture, and the feeling of belonging.”
