Fiji's threat

over air fares

International airlines and the International Air Transport Council {I AT A) have been threatened by Fiji Prime Mini ster Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara with an “open sky” policy which would open the country to charter operations if air fares on Fiji-Australia and Fiji-New Zea land were not cut. The Prime Minister was commenting on lATA’s new fare scale which has cut fares by as much as 44 per cent on Fiji-North America routes but left other fares from Fiji untouched. Recalling that an “open sky” policy had brought down fares in South-East Asia, Ratu Mara said, “We will not hesitate to declare Fiji an open sky for charters if that is the only way we can get lower fares”.