But country’s own airline in trouble?

Elenoa Baselala
Days after the Tuvaluans feasted to welcome Air Pacific’s second flight to the island country, their airline, Air Fiji, halted its operation as a result of its inability to purchase fuel for its planes.

While it flies twice a week to Tuvalu, it was those in Fiji where the airline operates extensively that were inconvenienced. At least one wedding was cancelled as a result.

No explanations were given to the media by the airline management, which preferred to remain silent on the issue.

When this edition went to press, Air Fiji was into its third day of non-operation with the Fiji based Tuvalu High Commission waiting anxiously to know whether its Prime Minister, Apisai Ielemia, returning from the Niue Pacific Islands Forum meeting, would be able to return home as scheduled on Air Fiji on August 26 with Air Pacific being fully booked.

Efforts to reach Air Fiji management were futile, but Tuvalu Transport and Communications permanent secretary Tapugao Falefou confirmed the airline had reached its credit limit of obtaining fuel from Air BP.

It is understood Air Fiji's debt with Air BP had totalled $500,000.

Falefou and Tuvalu’s High Commissioner based in Fiji, Tine Leuelu, are the country’s representatives on the Air Fiji board.

Tuvalu and Chinese company Chactic own almost 80 percent of shares in Air Fiji.

A meeting of the airline’s senior management on August 25 made a number of decisions.

Falefou confirmed that one of the decisions was to approach the Bank of Tuvalu for funds.Another was to continue chartering Northern Air and Pacific Sun (subsidiary of Air Pacific) planes.

Air Fiji chief executive Sialeni Vuetaki issued a statement to the media apologising for the inconvenience caused but did not provide any explanation in relation to the cancellation  of flights.

Falefou said the airline management was devising ways of solving the problem but did not wish to elaborate further.

He, however, said they were working to resume business with the fuel company.

But Air Fiji’s pain is Air Pacific’s gain, which since June recommenced the Fiji-Tuvalu route after a lapse of 27 years.

Last month, Air Pacific chief executive John Campbell with Fiji’s director of civil aviation, Akuila Waradi and media representatives flew to Funafuti, Tuvalu’s capital, from Nausori on Air Pacific’s inaugural second weekly service.

In his remarks during the celebration, Tuvalu’s Communication and Transport minister Taukelina Finekaso said he had no doubt that “in addition to the benefit from the competition between the two airlines, it will also one way or another result in the improvement of the quality of service and that airfares will no doubt be competitive and more affordable”.

Finekaso revealed that negotiations commenced two years ago and the negotiation process was not straight-forward encountering problems where tough calls had to be made.

It is understood the Government of Tuvalu had to make a choice between protecting its airline or better services as the people of Tuvalu were not particularly happy with the Air Fiji service.

In the end, it was public pressure that won allowing four flights to Tuvalu in a week—Tuesdays and Thursdays by Air Pacific—and from September 1 Mondays and Fridays by Air Fiji.

Campbell revealed its service would be 20 percent cheaper than Air Fiji.

In addition, the airline was providing the service without any subsidy from the Tuvalu Government.

“We are upgrading your travel service and airport systems to enable electronic ticketing and automated check-in, making travel to and from Funafuti more convenient.

“We are skilling local staff with international standard training for handling modern aircraft and supporting improvements to safety and security procedures.

“We have also created very competitive airfares and flight connections to and from Australia and New Zealand with travel conveniently arranged on one ticket right here in Funafuti .

" From September 1 we will expand airfare options to include Asia, Japan, USA and Europe, all on one ticket,” Campbell told the Tuvaluans.

He further added that Tuvalu would now be marketed worldwide through Air Pacific’s website and travel agents globally.

“We believe we can bring benefits to Tuvalu through our global marketing strength.

“This includes introducing Funafuti as a destination to our worldwide network of travel agents and to our travel industry media partners, enhancing exposure to the world.

“We expect to increase visitor arrivals to Tuvalu from Australia, New Zealand, North America and Asia.

"This will bring foreign exchange earnings vital for Tuvalu’s trading capacity with the world which was previously not possible in the absence of distribution schedule and airfare linkages.

“We intend to explore air cargo options to and from Tuvalu in the coming mmonths once our passenger service has been bedded down.”