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A Pacific Sun Nausori to Labasa flight was cancelled after two attempted takeoffs yesterday afternoon, with some passengers apparently left stranded in Suva without arrangements by the airline for accommodation.
The 2.45pm flight was originally delayed for 45 minutes, said unionist Agni Deo Singh, who, along with four members of his family was supposed to be on the flight to attend an engagement ceremony in Labasa.
Singh said after passengers boarded the flight at 3.45pm, the ATR 42 aircraft went up to the runway and returned, with the pilot announcing that there was a problem.
The same thing happened about an hour later. After the passengers reboarded at 4.30pm, the aircraft taxied up to the runway where the pilot revved up the engine and then announced, “sorry folks, but this aircraft is not going anywhere”, according to Singh.
“By this time there were over 30, very riled up passengers which included some tourists and another very young woman traveling with a birthday cake,” said Singh, whose own family members were taking a three-tier cake to the engagement ceremony.
He said back at the counter, passengers were told that those of them who were not from Suva would have to make their own accommodation arrangements with people they knew in the capital city area.
The management of Pacific Sun was not immediately available for comment.
“I don’t think it’s going to be of any help in terms of tourism promotion and I think this is happening because of the monopoly situation that exists with local flights,” said Singh.
He said three days earlier, a 5.30pm flight to Labasa departed at 8pm.
“My reading is that a lot of times, the 5.30pm is delayed so that instead of a second flight at around 8pm, the airline has only one flight to Labasa (in the evening)”.
“This is unacceptable and I think it’s because of the monopoly that exists."
