Christopher Luxon defends use of second plane for Palau mission

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is defending the decision to deploy two Royal New Zealand Air Force Boeing 757 aircraft for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) leaders meeting in Palau. One aircraft is serving as a backup, stationed in Cairns, to ensure connectivity due to the remote location of the summit.

Luxon noted that 88 people from New Zealand are involved in the mission, including transporting 14 delegations. He emphasized the necessity of reliable air transport given the logistical challenges of the region. Air Commodore Andy Scott supported the decision, stating that limited air service options in the remote area necessitated a backup aircraft.

The move has drawn scrutiny because Luxon previously criticized former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins for using a backup plane during a trip to China in 2023, citing climate concerns. While Luxon had vowed not to use Defence Force planes for international travel if elected, he has now justified the current deployment as a Defence Force operational decision.