22 May 2007

Fiji carrier drops flights as passenger numbers fall

4:21 am on 22 May 2007

Fiji's national airline, Air Pacific, is to reduce its services to some destinations and delay starting some planned new flights because of declining passenger numbers.

The airline will slash four weekly flights from Sydney, one from Brisbane, three from Auckland and one from Tokyo.

As well, a planned fifth weekly flight between Nadi and Los Angeles using a Boeing 747 jumbo jet will be put on hold.

Air Pacific's managing director, John Campbell, says the airline recorded a 15% drop in passenger numbers in the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year.

He has attributed the decline to travel advisories, media reports overseas about events in Fiji and increased competition from other tourist destinations.