Nauru Airlines has welcomed its first Boeing 737-700 and unveiled a new livery featuring Nauru’s distinctive 12-pointed star representing its tribes and people. The airline plans to adorn the rest of its fleet with its new livery in due time.

Nauru Airlines' Boeing 737-700

Central Pacific carrier Nauru Airlines has unveiled its first Boeing 737-700 painted with a brand-new livery. The new livery features Nauru's national colors along the body and wings, as well as the nation's 12-pointed star.

The President of the Republic of Nauru, Lionel Aingimea, debuted the new livery design in Townsville and expressed his delight with the Nauruan design.

Nauru Airlines Chairman, Dr Kieren Keke, said,

"The first flight will be a moment of celebration as it marks a new beginning as Nauru Airlines’ fresh branding takes to the sky on our new aircraft. The waves flowing along the body of the aircraft are symbolic of the Pacific Ocean and reflect Nauru Airline’s historic and ongoing ability to connect the small island nations of the Pacific with Australia and beyond."

The Boeing 737-700 is registered as VH-INU. The aircraft is over 16 years old and entered service with Air China in 2006. It also spent around three years at Surinam Airways before being withdrawn from use in February 2021.

According to ch-aviation, the airline took delivery of the 737-700 back in July 2021. However, induction, certification, and registration procedures delayed its entry into the Nauru Airlines fleet. The carrier also stated that it had purchased the aircraft outright.

Dr Keke added,

"The 737-700 aircraft also expands the operational capabilities of our service, opening up opportunities to increase our network of destinations, which will be considered in the future."

New livery for the whole fleet

During the unveiling ceremony, Dr Keke revealed that Nauru Airlines' entire fleet will be repainted with the new livery. Along with its Boeing 737-700, the carrier's fleet consists of four Boeing 737-300s.

Two of these aircraft are involved in passenger operations, while the other two Boeing 737-300(SF) aircraft are for cargo operations. The two freighter variants were welcomed into the fleet in 2021.

Plans for another 737-700

Before taking delivery of VH-INU in July, Nauru Airlines stated its intent to acquire a second Boeing 737-700 by the end of 2021 as part of its fleet renewal. However, such an arrangement has not materialized thus far.

Nauru Airlines is funding its fleet renewal program with a long-term $25 million loan secured by the Government of Nauru from the Taiwanese Export–Import Bank. The airline also secured government funding to finance its Passenger-To-Freighter (P2F) conversions for its Boeing 737-300(SF) freighters.

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