Air Terminal Services (Tonga) Limited has opened recruitment for a new chief executive officer to lead the company that provides ground handling for international flights at Fua’amotu (Tongatapu) and Lupepau’u (Vava’u) airports. The appointment is being framed as a key leadership role: the successful candidate will act as ATS Tonga’s accountable executive to airline partners and regulatory authorities, and will be responsible for maintaining the company’s international operating standards.
ATS Tonga is internationally certified under the International Air Transport Association’s Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO), a credential that underlines the company’s commitment to globally recognised safety and quality practices. The job advertisement stresses that applicants must bring extensive experience in airport ground handling management; preference will be given to candidates with previous overseas postings, reflecting the role’s interaction with international carriers and regulatory frameworks.
While fluency in both English and Tongan is preferred, ATS Tonga has noted bilingualism is not essential, widening the pool to regional and international applicants with the requisite technical and managerial experience. The company describes the position as offering a senior executive remit over operations that directly affect aircraft turnaround, passenger and baggage handling, and compliance with aviation safety standards — functions critical to Tonga’s international air connectivity and tourism sector.
This recruitment comes at a time of visible leadership change across Pacific aviation. Regional carriers and service providers have refreshed senior ranks in recent months, underscoring the sector’s focus on operational resilience and strategic growth as travel demand recovers across the region. For ATS Tonga, securing a CEO with proven ground-handling credentials will be central to sustaining relationships with airline partners that rely on reliable ground operations at Tonga’s international gateways.
Interested candidates can obtain the full application package and job requirements by emailing the current ATS Tonga CEO, Paul Karalus, at pkaralus@atstonga.to. The company has not publicly disclosed an application deadline, salary range, or whether an international search firm is assisting the appointment.
The new CEO will inherit oversight of operations at Tonga’s two main international airports and will be expected to preserve ISAGO standards while managing day-to-day operational challenges. The appointment will be closely watched by airlines and tourism stakeholders, given the direct link between efficient ground handling and the quality of Tonga’s international flight services.