New look for Air Pacific

If you fly Air Pacific this new year, you’ll

notice the crew decked out in new-look uniforms. The company’s cabin crew donned the new uniforms from December 12 last year.

The introduction of the new blue and purple colours on the attire marks a revamp of the airline’s inflight service.

Based on a tropical island flavour, the uniforms are laced with frangipanis, exotic reef fish, palm trees and hues of the sea and sky. Air Pacific managing director Michael McQuay said the company spent “a very lot of money” on the new look.

“We believe the uniforms reflect a truer picture of who we are,” he said. “It represents an island touch with a very professional look.” “It complements our new interior and cutlery.”

The uniforms were designed by Margaret Widdis of Profile Limited in New Zealand. McQuay said when selecting the uniform, designers were advised of the airline’s new theme and changes it had made to its image.

The airline has used the colours blue and purple to design the aircraft interior.

New crockery and cutlery are also being introduced to coincide with the introduction of the uniforms. McQuay said the airline had changed the livery of its fleet of three 7375, two 747 s and a 767 Boeing aircraft. He said the final product spoke for itself.

Air Pacific is one of the better performing companies that the Fiji government has a stake in. For the financial year ending March 31 last year, the company announced a record profit of FJ$2B.5 million before profit sharing, abnormal items and pre-tax.

This was a 348 per cent improvement on the 1997-98 financial year and represents the 13th consecutive year the airline has recorded a profit.

The net profit of FJ$ 13.203 million is a 59.6 per cent increase over results of FJ58.273 million for the previous financial year.

At the time. Air Pacific chair Gerald Barrack said: “Our aim is to be the

leading airline in the South Pacific and this dramatic improvement in our results is a testament to the commitment of our employees in achieving that end.”

The 1998-99 period saw the company’s revenue increase 30.4 per cent over the previous year to FJ5370.8 million. Expenses were FJ5344.2 million, an increase of 23.8 per cent over 1997-98.

McQuay said the major factors that contributed to the results included the impact of the devaluation of the Fijian dollar in January 1998 on the company’s revenue and expenditure and organisational restructure within the airline.

He also cited resolution of the pilot and flight attendant log of claims that resulted in a 34 per cent productivity improvement and favourable renegotiation of aircraft leases. Air Pacific is 51 per cent owned by the government of Fiji and 46 per cent by Qantas. ■

The new look Air Pacific cabin crew show off their uniforms which will lake them into the next century