Air Pacific soars
pp. 40-41 · Read in the full issue
AS the largest single carrier of
passengers into Fiji, national air line Air Pacific, will be making a large presentation to this month’s Fiji Tourism Convention, looking at past successes and focusing on the foresee able future, which looks particularly rosy.
The airline is considering increasing its fleet and destinations. It will double flights to Japan in October and is investi gating markets in other Asian nations while staying clear of the North Amer ican route. Taiwan and Korea are the other targetted growth areas in Asia, both being very affluent countries with a lot of people looking for overseas holi days: “Fiji needs a lot of promotion in Asia, but the potential is there,” said Marketing Director Ernie Dutta.
Air Pacific is not contemplating the North American route because the three large US carriers coming south have
forced fierce competition and large price
reductions, making the route unprofit able for smaller carriers. With market
growth currently predicted at 7-10 per
cent over the next five years, Dutta said Air Pacific planned to buy/lease another two 767 s if they are required: “We can meet the demand if the hotel rooms come on line. Our plans are in motion and will materialise.”
As one of the largest promoters and
advertisers of Fiji as a destination, Dutta said Air Pacific was fully supportive of the concept of ‘Fiji Incorporated’: “It’s an excellent idea and happened after the coup for a time when a lot of people pooled their resources, put aside their own interests and did things together which ended up with today’s success. We want to pick the eyes out of this con cept.”
Air Pacific is financially very sound, with a record 1988/89 financial year operating profit of over Fs9 million. In the 12 months to April 1990, passenger numbers increased by 16.1 per cent over the previous year to 344,400. Its fleet includes a 747 on lease from Qantas, two ATR-42s which travel the immediate Pacific and a 737, which will be sold when a 767 comes on stream shortly.
The 767 will do the shuttle run to New Zealand and open a big market in south ern Australia.
From July, Air Pacific will increase its capacity from Sydney by 22 per cent to 1830 seats. The larger 767 aircraft and extra flights will almost double present seat capacity out of Melbourne to 624 and seats from Brisbane will increase from 270 to 624. From New Zealand, there will be a 10 per cent increase to 832 seats. D