Air + Sea

Expansion continues apace at Air Fiji. Chief Executive Sialeni Vuetaki says the airline is investing in two new 19-seater aircraft, which will service its Nadi, Nausori, Labasa and Savusavu routes from early March.

Air Fiji is also involved in Tonga's new domestic airline--Airlines Tonga--which has resumed commercial flights to Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu after a lapse of two years following the debacle over the attempted monopoly of domestic air services in the Kingdom. The major shareholder in Airlines Tonga is Teta Tours of Tonga with 51 percent. Air Fiji holds the remaining 49 percent.

Vuetaki says the new airline will offer two flights a week to the Niuas and a daily service between Tongatapu, Ha'apai and Vava'u. Tongan tourism authorities are optimistic the flights will revitalize the industry-with projections of increased arrivals of 30 percent within two years.

Meanwhile, Pacific Blue has appointed Air Fiji as its General Sales Agent in Fiji. Virgin Blue Head of Commercial - International, Karam Chand, said Pacific Blue has had a remarkable impact on the Fiji tourism industry, with the Brisbane-Nadi market growing by 58 percent and Melbourne-Nadi by 39 percent. The largest market segment, Sydney-Nadi, has grown by 16 percent in three months. "Fiji is one of our most important international markets and we are pleased to be able to expand our commitment to this market through our association with such a high-profile partner," says Chand.

CNMI Comings And Goings

The termination last year of Japan Airlines' scheduled service between Japan and Saipan may have opened the door to a new company. Air Saipan Ltd. plans to introduce flights services between Saipan and Asian markets such as Japan and South Korea and tap into other markets, including Australia and Hong Kong according to Lee Cabrera, the new executive director of the Commonwealth Ports Authority.

Air Saipan's Dave Raybould says the carrier has acquired two Boeing 757 aircraft with a capacity of 200 each, and made an initial investment of US$3 million, as the company forges ahead with plans to become a full-fledged airline that will serve as the Northern Marianas' flag carrier. The company initially intends to offer charter services, starting in March or April.

Continental Micronesia provided charter flights in Jauary and February for Japanese tourists from Nagoya, Niigata and Sapporo to Saipan following the pullout of Japan Airlines' regular flights to the CNMI. JAL and Omni Airlines also provided charters over the holiday period.

The charter flights augment Northwest Airlines' 21 regular weekly flights -seven each from Osaka, Tokyo and Nagoya. Asiana Airlines has also begun tapping the Japanese market through flights via Seoul.

However Continental Micronesia has reduced its Boeing 737-800 flights between Guam and Saipan, citing poor demand for the service. The flights have been reduced to three flights a week from Guam to Saipan and from Saipan to Guam. Vice President for Sales and Marketing Wally Dias says the service has been underperforming.

TRANSPORT BRIEFS

Vanuatu and France are looking to amend their air service agreement to allow direct flights between Noumea, New Caledonia and Tanna and Santo, Vanuatu. It is hoped the negotiations will eventually open up air routes to Whitesands, Tanna, and Pekoa in Santo from Noumea.

The Honiara International Airport Restoration Project is finally finished, to the benefit of both international and domestic travelers. The project reportedly cost the Japanese government more than US$7 million and included restoration of the runway pavement and replacement of runway lights.

Staffing problems continue at Air Vanuatu with the dismissal of former finance manager Richard Holstein. Holstein's contract with Air Vanuatu expired at the end of last year, but he was appointed to a new position as projects manager. He has now been removed from that position.

At Horizon Lines, Mar Labrador has been promoted to Vice President and General Manager, Hawaii/Guam, assuming responsibility for the overall operation and profitability of Horizon Lines' Hawaii/Guam trade. He will be based in Hawaii, and moves on from the position of General Manager of Horizon Lines' Guam operations.

The chairman of French Polynesia's international flag carrier, Air Tahiti Nui, Patrick Leboucher, has resigned citing a conflict of interest with his newer position as CEO for President Oscar Temaru. Air Tahiti Nui's has recorded a deficit of some 1.7 billion French Pacific francs (US$17.7 million), which the company mainly attributes to fuel costs. Air Tahiti Niu has also announced plans to operate a weekly Paris-New York flight from late March.

Malopaia John Fitzgerald

Polynesian Airlines chief executive officer Malopaia John Fitzgerald has resigned after 12 years on the job. Local media attributed his resignation to the scaling down of Polynesian operations by the effective transfer of its international jet operation to Polynesian Blue. Since the resignation, Taua Fata Tielu has been appointed the new CEO of Polynesian Airlines. He has been with the airline since 2003. Prior to that, he was for six years the financial controller for National Pacific Insurance. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Auckland University in New Zealand.