Almost 90%of bookings for Fiji Airways flights and holiday packages were by Australians – Koya

Minister for Tourism Faiyaz Koya says almost 90% of bookings for Fiji Airways flights and holiday packages were by Australians.

While supporting the motion that Parliament approve the increased Government guarantee to Fiji Airways borrowings, Koya says Fiji Airways has over 26,000 bookings in the last 11 days.

Koya says it is extremely sad that they have to, each time, stand up and defend Fiji’s national airline and each time they have had to remind the opposition that it is very important that we protect and keep our national airline.

He adds they are supporting Fiji Airways to ensure that they are ready to hit the skies with all our ability come 1st December 2021.

Koya further says if it were for the opposition, Fiji Airways would have been disposed of a long time ago.

Parliament has approved the increased Government guarantee to Fiji Airways borrowings by increasing the existing local approved guarantee from FJ$191.1 million to FJ$241.1 million and the offshore borrowings from US$117.1 million to US$142.1 million with the total guarantee ceiling increasing from FJ$455 million to FJ$561.4 million valid until the guaranteed facilities are discharged or fully settled; and that Fiji Airways be exempted from paying a guarantee fee.