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Fiji and Hong Kong are expected to sign an agreement this year that would open up more routes for local airline Air Pacific in Asia and Europe.
Last week, the Fiji Cabinet had given the green light to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Civil Aviation to sign the Fiji-Hong Kong special administration region (SAR) air services agreement (ASA).
Air Pacific chief executive and managing director John Campbell welcomed the announcement, saying the locally-owned airline had encouraged the Government to initiate the air services agreement with Hong Kong in order to materialise its plans to commence flights between Fiji and Hong Kong.
“The Air Services Agreement is, in effect, the licensing of the route for operations and ASAs are required between Fiji and any country that Air Pacific or the other countries airlines provide flight operations,” Campbell said.
In his submission to Cabinet last week, acting Prime Minister Ratu Epeli Ganilau said the ASA was envisaged to lead to meaningful bilateral relationships between Fiji and Hong Kong in areas of trade, tourism and increased interaction.
He said that the agreed air services scheduled to commence with effect from December 3 later this year were intended to open up air routes to the lucrative air routes in Asia, Europe and the USA.
