Air + Sea

Air Tahiti Nui was also ranked fourth internationally for its flight attendants, and received one of nine "Airline Excellence Awards," for product and customer service standards across the airport and onboard environment. "We are extremely gratified that the Skytrax passenger survey has again validated our commitment to customer care and service excellence," said Wally Sumner, the carrier's Vice President-North America." Summer hopes to maintain their position with the introduction of a non-stop service from Papeete, Tahiti to New York, and from Papeete to Sydney in July 2005.

Skytrax says its "global barometer of airline passenger opinions, is free of outside or financial influences." The survey was conducted between June 2003 and March 2004, and included over 10.8 million nominations. The surveys cover on-board features, airport services, cabin and seat comfort, catering and cabin staff service. Its Website provides detail of an airline's performance in a number of categories, and customer comments, as well as a place to have your say. www.airlinequality.com

Well Connected

Air Nauru Retains Marshalls Service
Nauru and Marshall Islands have agreed on the terms of a MOU that will allow Air Nauru to continue providing air services to and from Majuro. Air Nauru Chief Executive Geoff Bowmaker says the airline is encouraged by the support it has received in providing the service that links Marshall Islands to Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Australia and Fiji. Mixed Fortunes

Cutbacks, Growth At Continental

Continental Airlines is seeking to reduce its payroll and benefits costs by $500 million, from Feb. 28. Continental management is meeting with work groups now to discuss the changes, including wage cuts. "This is a difficult and painful decision, but we need to take this action now, before we find ourselves in a severe crisis," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Bethune. The cutbacks are likely to have wider impacts on the Guam economy. Meanwhile, the airline's Pacific unit, Continental Micronesia, may open an office in China to promote Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas to Chinese visitors. Cargo Talks

Some Oppose CNMI Levy

The Northern Marianas' Commonwealth Ports Authority has criticized critics of a new US$15 tariff for cargo containers. Executive Director Carlos H. Salas says the tariff is needed to pay for a drainage system, asphalt paving, and to generally make the facility more efficient. At the time of going to press, CPA managers were due to meet bondholders to discuss the tariff in the U.S. Departures

Aloha Air Pulls Out

Aloha Airlines is withdrawing from all of its Pacific Islands routes. As of early January, it will no longer fly from Honolulu to American Samoa and the Marshall Islands. Aloha's new president and chief executive, David Banmiller, says inconsistent traffic patterns and insufficient revenues are to blame for the cancellation of the routes.

The airline will operate its final flight to the Marshall Islands on January 10th. Aloha's last flight between Honolulu and Pago Pago will be on January 12. The airline has also suspended its twice-weekly service to the Cook Islands, and earlier terminated its subsidized flights from Honolulu to Christmas Island in Kiribati. Aloha in early December announced that 12 senior managers were fired, and that 35 open positions were being frozen. As of press time, privately-held Aloha Airlines had reported three consecutive quarters of losses, $963,000 alone in its second quarter. Fiji

Aviation Changes

New Zealand travel agent Flight Centre, noted for its low fares, is claiming the Fiji government forced it to abandon plans for cheap charter flights to Fiji because it was concerned about the impact on Air Pacific. Flight Centre wanted to offer holiday packages from US$296 from April, but managing director, Graeme Moore says the plans were dropped because of delays in getting approval from Fiji. The government owns 51 percent of Air Pacific.

Air New Zealand began direct flights between Wellington and Nadi late November. It's building on the good results from its lower fare structures to the Pacific Islands, with a 53 percent increase in passenger numbers from the North Island and upper South Island to Fiji since they were introduced.

Australia-based discount carrier Virgin Blue has applied to the International Air Services Commission to double its flights to Fiji. It wants to fly daily from Melbourne and Brisbane to Fiji. The Fiji Visitors Bureau and Fiji Hotel Association have welcomed the move.

The competition between Air Pacific and Air Fiji has intensified. Air Pacific began service between Tongatapu, Tonga and Suva late November, but only over the festive season. Air Fiji formerly serviced this route, but was forced to stop after the Fiji government withdrew its designation as a national carrier. Air Fiji's chief executive Sialeni Vuataki has criticized that decision, saying they stand to lose $2 million in income.