Aussie airlines will help brand Fiji: Wong

October 27, 2009 07:10:06 AM

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Tourism Fiji chairman Patrick Wong says extra seat capacity on the Fiji-Australia route through two Australian carriers Jetstar and V Australia will help brand Destination Fiji.

Wong made the comments in response to the announcement that the International Air Services Commission had granted Jetstar, a low-cost Qantas subsidiary, and V Australia, capacity on the Fiji route.

The Qantas Group was awarded 852 seats of capacity per week which must be used no later than April 2010, said the travelweekly.com.au website.

The site reported that V Australia has been awarded 907 seats of capacity per week, but the carrier must launch services by December 31 this year.

While it quoted the Commission as saying that it expected Jetstar and V Australia to compete strongly on the leisure market, it said the allocation of capacity into Fiji was split between the carriers, forcing them to reassess their plans to introduce new services.

The carriers were seeking 1,491 and 1,267 seats respectively and planning daily services between Sydney and Nadi.

Wong said low-cost carriers had greater flexibility when it came to operational costs, pricing, planning with the encouragement of airline carriers venturing, flying out of non mainstream ports as well as opening up better connectivity and additional new regions for Fiji.

He said while Fiji’s national carrier Air Pacific had to be recognised for its contribution towards Fiji’s tourism industry, branding Destination Fiji required securing seat capacity which he said opened up emerging markets for better market operation.

In addition, additional airline seats were a key performance for increasing visitor arrivals.