21 Aug 2007

Fiji's national airline records a 6-percent drop in passenger

10:37 am on 21 August 2007

Fiji's national airline, Air Pacific, recorded a drop in passenger bookings of 6-percent in the first six months of this year compared with the same period in 2006.

But the airline says this figure is not an accurate reflection of the real drop in business.

Its managing director, John Campbell, says the 6-percent drop has to be seen against the growth forecast made by the airline for this year.

He says in this context the real drop in passenger numbers is close to 15-percent.

Mr Campbell says this is the impact the political events of December last year and their ongoing effect on the tourism inflows into Fiji.