Pacific Magazine > Magazine > April 27, 2008

Air & Sea

Air & Sea

Briefs

By Samantha Magick

BY AIR

Air Vanuatu will commence a direct Melbourne to Port Vila service on June 5.
The flights will operate on Thursdays.  “This is a significant development for both Air Vanuatu and the people of Melbourne providing a direct service to the pacific paradise of Vanuatu,” says Malcolm Pryor, Air Vanuatu manager Australia.

Meanwhile Air Pacific is now all operating all flights between Nadi and Port Vila following a code sharing agreement with Air Vanuatu. The service will operate three times weekly.

Guam International Airport Authority (GIAA) posted net assets of $29.2 million for fiscal year 2007. Revenues collected for FY 2007 amounted to approximately $40.1 million while operating expenses were kept to $28 million including retirement unfunded liability.  The $11.7 million income from operations before depreciation and amortization is the result of the aggressive monitoring of finances by airport management while continuing to focus on the development and execution of the authority's revenue enhancement program. Although passenger activity for FY '07 dropped slightly by 2 percent from 1.52 million to 1.49 million the previous fiscal year, GIAA said its enplanement figures are still consistent with the Federal Aviation Administration's 2007 tariff activity forecast range. GIAA said this slight dip is expected to pick up as the China market opens up and airline partners take advantage of Guam's unique opportunity for unlimited flights in the Guam-China route.

Air Niugini has in place electronic ticketing arrangements with Emirates and Sri Lankan Airline after formalizing agreements with the two international airline companies last week. “After the successful agreement with Emirates and Air Lanka, Air Niugini has now completed a total eight interline e ticket agreements with other airlines including Qantas, Air New Zealand, Korean Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air and Continental Airlines,” the airline says.

Japan Airlines (JAL) reported better-than-expected earnings for the three months ended Dec 31, 2007, thanks to strong business travel demand and the suspension of loss-making routes. JAL is on course to return to profitability this fiscal year ending March 2008.

The airline has a new mid-term business plan designed to generate a profit even if jet fuel prices stay at the current high levels.

Samoa’s government owned Polynesian Airlines is negotiating to buying a Twin Otter from PPS Aircraft of Canada. At present the airline has one Twin Otter and a Britten Norman Islander.

Solomon Islands’ Civil Aviation Director says six new airstrips will be built this year and next. The first three are expected to be built this year. There are also plans for provincial airstrips, including Seghe, Munda, and Gizo, to be upgraded.

Air Tahiti has signed a contract to handle the maintenance work for the two ATR planes operated by Fiji's inter-island carrier, Pacific Sun. Tahitipresse reports that Air Tahiti obtained the contract after successfully responding to a public bid put out by Pacific Sun, which is the domestic carrier for Fiji's international airline, Air Pacific. While Pacific Sun's inter-island fleet includes two ATR-42-500s, Air Tahiti serves its sprawling network of 42 island and atoll destinations with a fleet of four ATR 42-500s and five ATR 72-500s. Air Tahiti recently ordered a sixth 66-passenger ATR 72-500, which, along with three more previously ordered 72-500s, is due to be delivered in 2008 and 2009.

Nauru’s Our Airline has finalized negotiations which were finalized this week to provide air services for Norfolk Air. Under the arrangement, Our Airline will acquire an additional Boeing 737-300 series aircraft which will eventually replace Norfolk Air’s current 737-200, thus providing approximately 25% greater seating capacity and up to 50% additional freight carrying capability. The additional 737-300, to be based on Norfolk Island, is expected to be in service by October and will bear Norfolk Air’s livery. In the interim, services will be operated using the Norfolk Air’s existing aircraft, with interim services expected to start before the end of this month (April).

Virgin Blue says its profits would more than halve this year due to record fuel prices and will increase ticket prices or introduce another fuel surcharge to recoup some of the losses. The Toll Holdings-controlled Virgin Blue board has also conceded defeat in its attempt to find a buyer for the majority stake the transport company inherited from its takeover of Patrick Corp two years ago. Virgin Blue says it will incur additional fuel costs of more than $120 million next year if jet fuel prices remain above $US135 a barrel. Virgin Blue now expects its annual after-tax profits to be no more than $100 million, compared with $216 million last financial year. The latest forecast includes about $40 million in development costs. Pacific Blue, Virgin’s Pacific arm, runs services to Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga and Samoa (through Polynesian Blue) from Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile Virgin Blue is increasing its flight frequency to Fiji and Vanuatu from June. There will be four more flights to Fiji each week from Sydney and Brisbane.

Air Niugini has launched a twice-weekly direct service between Port Moresby and Sydney. And it is has announced it will take delivery of two Boeing 787 Dreamliners by 2010. Air Niugini was also due to take delivery of a new Boeing 767-300ER late April.

SkyAirWorld has added a Wednesday service between Brisbane and Honiara, adding to its existing four services between the cities. “Our new flight scheduling supports SkyAirWorld’s aim to help grow the tourism market to the Solomon Islands, carrying 45,000 passengers per annum between Australia and the Solomon Islands,” SkyAirWorld says.

BY SEA

The Oinafa wharf in Rotuma has been declared an International Port of Entry by Fiji’s interim government. The declaration should enable the export of agricultural produce directly from Rotuma.

Horizon Lines has received the AMVER-Assisted Rescue at Sea Award for the extraordinary courage and seamanship of the Horizon Falcon crew. The Horizon Falcon's Captain Tom McDorr and his crew assisted in the rescue of Chinese crewmembers of the Panamanian-flagged ship, HAI TONG No. 7, after it sank in typhoon-heavy seas 300 nautical miles northwest of Guam last July. "We are honored by this prestigious award and grateful to Captain McDorr and the crew of the Horizon Falcon for their efforts. They responded immediately to U.S. Coast Guard's distress call and displayed incredible bravery during the rescue," said Don Watters, Senior Superintendent OTS - Fleet Operations.

Meanwhile Horizon Lines, Inc. has announced the appointment of Hugh Healey to the position of General Manager, Guam.  Healey will be responsible for overseeing all of Horizon Lines' Guam operations, as the Pacific island is poised for trade growth related to U.S. military expansion. "Hugh Healey's transportation and business education, along with his diverse company experience, will allow us to continue to grow in Guam and the surrounding Micronesia region under his leadership," said Mar Labrador, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Hawaii and Micronesia Division. In preparation for the buildup, Horizon Lines has added five new container vessels to the Guam trade as part of the company's long-term fleet enhancement program.

 

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific has awarded IBC/TOA Corporation Joint Venture based in Barrigada, Guam a $40 million, firm-fixed price contract March 26 for the construction of a new ammunition wharf for Commander, Naval Forces Marianas. The project will provide for a new 400-foot extension to the existing Kilo Wharf, and the company will perform all necessary dredging within the harbor to enable the construction. The project will also provide for reinforced concrete crane girders and supports at the existing wharf and the new wharf extension. "This project will provide over 50,000 additional square feet of wharf area, and it improves the Navy's ability to safely and efficiently unload and resupply modern ordnance ships by increasing the area for receipt and handling of munitions," said Lieutenant Commander Eric Hawn, assistant regional engineer, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Marianas. "This results in an economized handling process, and a reduced on-station time."

 

Controversy in Tarawa where the entire board of directors of Kiribati Shipping Services Limited (KSSL) has been sacked by Transport Minister Patrick Tatireta for refusing to sign a government check amounting to $70,000 – a partial payment to the WKK Shipping Line for the purchase of its ship, MV Mataraoi. Pacific Magazine correspondent Batiri Bataua reports that sacked Chairman, Capt. Tearei Raubane said the board refused to sign the check because the ship is too old.