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This thesis aims to determine a blueprint for ensuring the economic sustainability of some small national airlines of the South Pacific countries, lessen the financial burden to governments and peoples of the region and yet deliver essential air services necessary for the economic well being of the region. The air transport sector continues to play a vital role in the economic growth of these sparsely populated islands, scattered across great expanses of the South Pacific Ocean. However, current costs of ownership and operation of small regional airlines in these limited markets and remote small Pacific communities are high and in most cases not economically sustainable. This study reviewed literature covering aviation industry background on the global and the South Pacific regional levels to identify concepts, status, trends and gaps between current airlines practices and acknowledged best practice. Based on this literature review, the study raised some research questions for the economic sustainability of these small airlines in the South Pacific. Firstly, should the islands own and operate a national air service? Secondly, what current airline practices contribute to airlines being not economically sustainable? Finally, how does an airline ensure economic sustainability for the future? The additional resources used were case studies of six regional airlines; experience and user surveys of stakeholders; a Delphi group session consisting of policy makers, stakeholders and practitioners; and analysis of best practice. This methodology allowed triangulation of the results of all this research to identify factors and their relative influence on economic sustainability of these airlines. Having analysed the need for air transportation in the smaller South Pacific nations, and reviewed the environment, history and difficulties of its provision, the study concludes with a blueprint for the future that advocates a managed and integrated strategy for economic sustainability of the independent South Pacific airlines of the region. This final outcome is a Managed Integrated Independent South Pacific Airlines (MIISPA) blueprint. Limitations of the thesis and areas for further research are described.