Airport (Official)

Nadi Will Be Fiji’s International Airport (Official)

THE Governments of UK, Australia and New Zealand have accepted the recommendation of the South Pacific Air Transport Council, made last year, that Nadi be Fiji’s international airport. Previously it was intended to build a new airport at Suva Point and resume land for that purpose. However, the cost of building the new airport— although it would be close to Fiji's capital instead of about 150 miles away at Nadi— was so great that the three countries concerned have reconsidered their original idea.

Airfields capable of taking the largest aircraft were constructed in Fiji during the war at Nadi, in the dry zone, and at

Nausori about 17 miles from Suva along side the Rewa river, and in the wet zone.

At first, it was assumed that either of these airfields would be brought up to international civil aviation standard and Fiji residents developed very conflicting ideas on the subject, depending, mostly, upon whether they lived on the Suva side of Viti Levu or on the Lautoka side.

About three years ago it was decided however, by the three overseas govern ments who would have to pay for it, that a brand new aerodrome at Suva Point would suit every one concerned, and the Nadi-Nausori controversy died a natural death. Last year, the cost of aerodrome construction having risen to several times that of original estimates, the UK- Australasian governments seemed to develop cold feet and it was suggested that they might then consider leaving the international airport at Nadi as re commended by the SPAT Council. This they have now agreed to do.

The cost of providing a third runway at Nadi is being investigated and a start has been made on plans for the necessary airport offices and staff quarters. The area within a three mile radius of Nadi has been declared a town planning area.

The three operating air transport com panies British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines, Pan American Airways and Canadian Pacific Airlines have always used Nadi. They never have been particularly interested in the Nadi- Nausori-Suva controversy. To them Nadi is a refuelling stop on their Australia (or New Zealand)-North American flights. If the airport had been near Suva it may have made some contribution to tourism in Fiji, but not to any great extent.

Questions in UK Parliament

AT the end of November the Secretary of State for the Colonies was asked in the House of Commons whether he was aware of the poor accommodation provided for airline passengers at Nadi airport. The reply was that New Zealand administered the airport on behalf of member governments of the South Pacific Air Transport Council. Buildings were ex-army constructions and “not ideal.”

However, providing accommodation was normally , the responsibility of the airline operators and it has been recommended that they now try to make their own arrangements whereupon the present buildings will be withdrawn from service. (Neither BCPA nor PAA make an over night stop at Nadi. But the Makambo Rest House, as the Nadi aerodrome accommodation unit is called, is used by CPA and the passengers of the New Zea land National Airways Corporation. The whole question of Fiji’s international air port has been so long unsettled every thing connected with it has assumed a permanent-temporary quality. Now that Nadi has been officially chosen we can hope to see some improvements along orthodox lines.

Captain Leslie Davis of Mandated Air lines, New Guinea, was married in Sydney, in early December, to Miss Joan Bickle.