THE marshall Islands government is scrambling for agreements with other carriers after Asia Pacific Airlines (APA) was grounded by the US Federal Aviation Administration (F), leaving freight marooned.
APA is the islands' sole provider of international air cargo services, but the F grounded the Guam-based carrier's fleet of three B757s and one 727 last month and talks have begun with United Airlines and Nauru Airlines.
The Marshall Islands declared a state of emergency due to the ban, now in its ninth week, essentially cutting off many essential services, including medicines and mail, reports London's Loadstar.
United and Nauru already provide infrequent passenger services and are in discussion with the islands' aviation task force (ATF) over the possible chartering of cargo aircraft to relieve the strain, according to local news sources.
Another avenue for the ATF is Air Marshall Islands, based in Majuro and providing island interconnectivity with a handful of De Havilland and Dornier propeller aircraft.
The ATF says that, despite its lack of any aircraft with sufficient range, the carrier does have the legal right to land on the US mainland and could, theoretically, retool to operate larger aircraft.
Meanwhile, mail continues piling up in Honolulu and Guam and, according to health secretary Jack Niedenthal, the islands' stock of medicine, including HIV treatments, will run out in less than a fortnight.
Its trade in fresh tuna, based in Majuro, is also under threat as millions of dollars' worth of fish are unable to be exported.
SeaNews Turkey
APA is the islands' sole provider of international air cargo services, but the F grounded the Guam-based carrier's fleet of three B757s and one 727 last month and talks have begun with United Airlines and Nauru Airlines.
The Marshall Islands declared a state of emergency due to the ban, now in its ninth week, essentially cutting off many essential services, including medicines and mail, reports London's Loadstar.
United and Nauru already provide infrequent passenger services and are in discussion with the islands' aviation task force (ATF) over the possible chartering of cargo aircraft to relieve the strain, according to local news sources.
Another avenue for the ATF is Air Marshall Islands, based in Majuro and providing island interconnectivity with a handful of De Havilland and Dornier propeller aircraft.
The ATF says that, despite its lack of any aircraft with sufficient range, the carrier does have the legal right to land on the US mainland and could, theoretically, retool to operate larger aircraft.
Meanwhile, mail continues piling up in Honolulu and Guam and, according to health secretary Jack Niedenthal, the islands' stock of medicine, including HIV treatments, will run out in less than a fortnight.
Its trade in fresh tuna, based in Majuro, is also under threat as millions of dollars' worth of fish are unable to be exported.
SeaNews Turkey
