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Virgin Australia this week announced it would launch daily Boeing 777-300ER flights between Sydney and Fiji from December 18 after receiving International Air Services Commission (IASC) approval.
The Australian newspaper reports the move comes after the IASC decided to split the last remaining capacity on the Australia-Fiji route between the Virgin Group and Qantas, despite objections by Qantas that it did not get enough seats for it to start daily Jetstar services on the route.
Fiji Islands Hoteliers and Tourism Association president Dixon Seeto said the increased frequency and capacity between Fiji and Australia would grow Fiji’s visitor arrivals market from Australia.
“The product and fares and combined marketing strength of two carriers will add to making Fiji more visible,” Seeto told FijiLive.
Fiji’s national carrier Air Pacific, 46 percent owned by Qantas, has daily flights to Sydney.
Qantas has a code-share arrangement with Air Pacific but wants to sell its stake in the airline.
While a government-led committee has been set up in Fiji to oversee the proposed sale of the Qantas stake, Jetstar is understood to be assessing whether its plans to fly to Fiji are still viable without daily frequency.
Qantas was awarded 852 seats of capacity per week which it must use no later than April 2010.
V Australia was awarded 907 seats per week with the IASC setting a December launch deadline.
The carriers were seeking 1,491 and 1,267 seats respectively and planning daily services between Sydney and Nadi.
V Australia’s daily services have been made possible by the transfer of 360 unused seats held by Pacific Blue. Virgin had indicated earlier that capacity was being held to add services to Melbourne and Adelaide in 2010.
