Rarotonga

The US carrier is returning to the Cook Islands after an absence of three decades.

A travel bubble between New Zealand and the Cook Islands is scheduled to open on May 17.

The startup had intended to fly routes between New Zealand and the Cook Islands.

Passengers from the Cook Islands can resume quarantine-free travel into New Zealand from Jan. 21.

Local services account for 88% of the carrier’s passengers and the airline said demand is rising on some of its domestic routes.