Airline gets a break

Press, 5 July 1977, Page 2

Airline gets a break

By LES BLOXHAM, travel editor Fiji’s international airline, Air Pacific, has won two major concessions after a year-long wrangle with the New Zealand Government over air routes and fares between Fiji and Auckland.

From August 7 the airline will be permitted three direct return flights a week between Suva and Auckland instead of having to fly, as at present, via Tonga. The fares for these flights will also be cheaper — the new agreement permits Air Pacific to charge the same fare as the Auckland-Nandi service offered by Air New Zealand. Air Pacific has, until now, not only been forced to fly the long way to Fiji, but has also had to base its fare on the Auckland-Nandi-Suva route. '

This was insisted upon primarily to protect Air Ne.z Zealand, a ruling rather shakily supported by the ar-

gument that a traveller destined for Suva, but who wanted to fly first to Nandi with Air New Zealand would still have to pay for the final leg across the island. In reality, of course, it meant that Air New Zealand could advertise a fare “to Fiji” for about $5O below Air Pacific’s.

From August 7, however, the competition will be fairer. Air Pacific will b e able to offer return flights between Auckland and Suva direct on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays for an “epic” (advance purchase) fare of $237 — the same as Air New Zealand charges to Nandi.

The flights have been planned to connect with Air Pacific’s service to and from Apia on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The airline’s New Zealand manager (Mr Roy Thomas) confirmed that flights would still go through Tonga on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. These fares will remain the same — $286 for an epic return ticket. Air Pacific flies B.A.C. 1-11 twin jets.