The Taiwan Connection

AIR New Zealand is hoping to in troduce a flight from Taiwan through Fiji to New Zealand within the next 12 months, making two weekly flights from the Asian tourism growth area through Nadi. Route Mana ger for Orient and Short-haul Pacific, Bob Wallace, said bi-lateral negotiations were still underway, but plans for a 767 service were promising. The airline will also extend another of its four Auck

land/Nadi/Hawaii flights through to

Los Angeles around July and possibly add another flight into Fiji.

“The increase is an indication of the importance of Nadi’s position in the Pacific and recognises Fiji’s tourist attrac tion. We see the South Pacific as an overall destination, and while we strong ly boost New Zealand, we also sell the area because when people come this far, many want to see more than one destina tion,” Wallace said. “We believe that this sort of development is vital to general tourism in the South Pacific.”

Air New Zealand currently has eight services through Nadi to the United States West Coast, one to Japan, two ter minators in Nadi and still runs the

famed “Coral Route” established in the days of flying boats. Fiji Manager, Rob Fullerton, said Fiji and New Zealand had very similar markets for the tourism pro duct and Fiji was important as both a transit point and destination. He said the Tourism Convention was important to establish where Fiji fitted into the inter national scene, which is integral to the airline’s promotion activities through its offices world wide.

Air New Zealand has just celebrated its 50th anniversary in the Pacific. Its fore runner, TEAL (Tasman Empire Airways Limited) began flying in 1940. New Zea land’s post-war Government policy dic tated that there be an air link with Fiji and the country’s tourist appeal made it a commercial success. The famous flying boat ‘Coral Route’ from Auckland to Papeete via Suva and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands both maintained regular communication links and created a uni que tourist experience.

The airline now has 220 flights be tween 46 airports in 16 countries and is

looking at another period of expansion

which will double the size of its fleet. It will be investing in extended range 7675,