Page 34 - IB April 2018

Business Intelligence

Fiji’s national airline rakes in millions

By Mereseini Marau-Totoka

NADI, Fiji -- National airline Fiji Airways and its subsidiaries
have recorded a US$47 million (FJ$95.8m) profit before tax
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.
This was a 12.5 per cent increase from the previous year’s
profit of $41.54 million.
Fiji Airways Group flew 1.6 million passengers compared to
1.4 million passengers for the previous year.
Eligible staff of Fiji Airways and Fiji Link will each receive a
profit share payout of a little more than $2000. Fiji Airways’ soon to be delivered Boeing 737 MAX8 Photo: Fiji Airways
Managers of Fiji Airways and Fiji Link on the other hand
will each receive a bonus of no less than $4,800. Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Announcing the profit, Fiji’s Attorney General and line Min- Andre Viljoen said: ‘To achieve a fourth year of successive
ister for Civil Aviation Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum commended the record profits is a massive achievement by the entire team of
airline staff, management and board for building on the Fijian the Fiji Airways Group. I couldn’t be more proud of the way
national carrier’s success story. the team surpassed all key metrics for revenue, passenger and
“For a country that’s very heavily dependent on tourism, it is network growth, efficiently navigating through a challenging
critically important for us to have a very healthy national car- operating period in which cost control was crucial. 2017 saw
rier. This result is a proud achievement not just for the airline the achievement of numerous milestones for the Group. The
but for the entire nation. Fiji Airways has again proved itself team increased the size of the fleet, launched a new route,
to be a star player in Team Fiji. And the warm congratulations increased frequencies on key long-haul routes and opened a
of every Fijian goes to the Fiji Airways management and staff. world class lounge at our home airport – Nadi.”
You have become role models for every enterprise in Fiji of The Group legally known as Air Pacific Limited comprises Fiji
what can be achieved in our workplaces with cooperation, Airways, Fiji Link, Pacific Call Comm Limited plus a 38.75 per-
collaboration, focus and hard work.” cent stake in the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Denarau Island.

Solomon Airlines creates hotel upgrade fund

HONIARA, Solomon Is-
lands – In an attempt to
renovate and raise the
standard of accommo-
dation in the country,
Solomon Airlines has an-
nounced the establishment
of the Solomon Islands
Tourism Infrastructure
Development Fund.
Air Kiribati flies to Tuvalu Airline CEO Brett Gebers
said the fund will initially Solomon Airlines’ flight attendants Doris
TARAWA, Kiribati -- Air Kiribati has launched its weekly “provide loans to existing Zinihite and Anna Michael
service linking Tarawa and Funafuti utilising its 35-seater resorts to help them renovate and achieve the standard
Dash 8 100 aircraft. expected by today’s tourist.
The new air link that began on 21 March offers an alterna- “Once the renovation phase has been completed and the
tive route for Tuvalu travellers who until Air Kiribati’s service fund has accumulated sufficient capital, it will be used as a
had only Suva, Fiji as its sole overseas destination through vehicle to finance additions to existing resorts.”
Fiji Airways’ twice a week flights. Gebers did not reveal how much the national carrier
“This service we believe will facilitate the growth and devel- is lending to start off the fund, only pointing out that it
opment of both tourism and trade between the two countries will nicely compliment an Australian Government-funded
and will further the Kiribati Governments objectives,” said programme that is defining minimum room standards of
Tarataake Teannaki, CEO of Air Kiribati. accommodation in the island nation.
“Our new Tuvalu service is our second international ser- The launch of the fund comes as Solomon Airlines pre-
vice that we have announced after last year’s establishment pares to introduce international air services to Munda Airport
of a once a week service between Tarawa and Honiara and in the country’s West Province, with a proposed once a week
Brisbane,” he added. direct flight from Brisbane to Munda in July.

34 Islands Business, April 2018