Solomon Airline’s Fiji flights axed

May 05, 2009 03:24:00 PM

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Solomon Airline’s flights to Fiji was suspended until further notice effective yesterday following differences with Air Niugini, the airline’s codeshare partner on that route.

In a statement yesterday, Solomon Airline said it is terminating its code-share agreement on the Solomon Islands-Fiji route as re-negotiations over expired commercial arrangements with Air Niugini became costly. 

“At the heart of the commercial differences was the fact that Air Niugini has decided to peg the number of seats and the price in which it intends for Solomon Airlines to pay for each seat, surcharges, cargo and excess baggage,” the airline’s statement said.

This, it said, makes it more expensive now to operate the Solomon-Fiji flight.
Solomon Airlines said it believed that the working relationship between both parties has been important for the development of services between the Melanesian Countries and the route opened by Air Niugini two years or so back was fundamental in ensuring it remained as a partner on the route.

Passengers holding reservations on the affected services from next week are being notified and will be offered alternative flights.

"We hope that a suitable solution will be addressed soon and are looking for our own potential solutions in operating future services to ensure our travelers are respected and protected for future," the airline said. 

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