Fiji’s airline may lose landing rights

Press, 7 October 1987, Page 8

Fiji’s airline may lose landing rights

Travel editor Fiji’s national airline, Air Pacific, could have its landing rights in New Zealand withdrawn if the Government imposes its full range of threatened sanctions. The Prime Minister, Mr Lange, hinted on Monday that Fiji could be left isolated from international air traffic if the sanctions were imposed. He said search-and-rescue aids would be withdrawn. This, however, would not prevent foreign airlines from flying to Fiji. The Government could in-, struct Air New Zealand not to resume services and also withdraw Air Pacific’s landing rights. But it could not stop Canadian Pacific or Japan Air' Lines from continuing to land at Nandi. Nor could it interfere with services to Fiji from Australia or Honolulu. A spokesman for Air Pacific said he had heard "on the grapevine’’ that its landing rights might be withdrawn, but so far there had been no official

word from the Government Air Pacific at present flies five times a week between Auckland and Nandi using Boeing 7375. From October 28 It will increase its capacity by 36 per cent With the introduction of a Boeing 747 on the route on Wednesday. Canadian Pacific and JAL also provide a link, but JAL will withdraw early next morith when it Switches from DClos:to 8747 s — a decision made before the coup last May. Action by the Airline Pilots’ Association has stopped Air New Zealand from resuming its flights. A spokesman for the airline said the company had. received no political directions about the route. While the pilots* ban c6ntinues, the airline is cancelling flights on , a "medium term” basis — several days ahead. Qantas is still flying from Australian cities to Nandi with reportedly good , loads, but Continental Airlines has withdrawn.