Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has resorted to flying commercially after the defence force aircraft carrying him and the 52 media and business delegations blew two fuses en route to Tokyo.
The Boeing 757 carrying the Prime Minister made a routine stop in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea to refuel and was only meant to be there for 90 minutes. Still, after a one-hour delay, a defence force representative confirmed the plane had not blown one but two fuses.
Luxon caught a commercial flight from Papua New Guinea and flew to Tokyo via Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, the Trade Minister, Todd McClay said the Government would pay for the commercial flights to get the 52 media and business delegation to Tokyo.
The group had been given chips and beer while they waited in a terminal lounge in Port Moresby.
A diverted Air New Zealand service would then take them to Tokyo. The cost of that flight was unknown, McClay said.
