25 Mar 2003

Virgin Blue expected to fly into Fiji

11:40 am on 25 March 2003

Australia's cut-price airline, Virgin Blue, is expected to begin flying into Fiji by the end of the year.

Its commercial head, David Huttner, says Fiji is one of the five prospects short-listed by the airline to expand its operations.

Mr Huttner, who's just visited Fiji for talks with tourism industry stakeholders, says he has found nothing to stop them operating into the country.

He says Virgin would bring more tourists to Fiji and offer local residents fares that are 30 percent cheaper than those currently charged.

Mr Huttner says Virgin's lower fares would make the air travel market more competitive and result in other airlines reducing their fares to Fiji.