Fiji Airways has been selected for a management contract to run the operations of Fiji Airports Limited.
This has been announced by Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in the 2022/2023 National Budget.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andre Viljoen says having management oversight at Fiji Airports will enhance a number of existing synergies between the two companies.
Viljoen says they have had a strong working relationship with Fiji Airports for many years and this management agreement will elevate services to the next level.
He also says COVID-19 has highlighted the need for a new approach to managing Fiji’s airport infrastructure and ensuring its fighting fit for what lies ahead.
Viljoen assures people that as part of this new arrangement, the governance, staff contracts and agreements at Fiji Airports will be unaffected.
Fiji Airports Limited will also retain its current board of directors, and maintain its same responsibilities – including a return to its shareholders.
He says there cannot be a ‘disconnect’ between airlines and airports, and now, more than ever, they need these two companies to be in lockstep, working together to ensure that every airline, every visitor, returning Fijian, freight shipper and inter-island traveller sees the very best of our country represented at our airports.
Fiji Airways will also ensure that potential revenue streams at Fiji Airports are fully realized.
Viljoen says much of the work undertaken by Fiji Airports is technically complex and creating more of these skilled roles is important as it has multiplier effects on the economy.
This new direction will ensure that infrastructure improvements are made across the group with new facilities to enhance the traveller experience to be built at outer island airports (Savusavu, Taveuni, Labasa), Suva Nausori and Nadi International Airport in the coming years.
Meanwhile Fiji Airports Board Chair, Hasmukh Patel has welcomed Fiji Airways onboard, saying the company brings with it decades of experience in the aviation sector and a keen eye for service excellence.
He says with better collaboration between stakeholders and Fiji Airports, a clearly defined and approved master plan can be created for airport expansion and improvement. This master plan, will ensure the planning of timely and cost-effective investments meet the demands of air traffic capacity growth.
Patel says the master plan should also identify improvements in non-aeronautical services, for instance, commercial and auxiliary activities such as rent from airport retail space, revenue from car parking and fees from property leases.
Patel has also assured that current staffing arrangements, and collective agreements at Fiji Airports will not change as a result of Fiji Airways now managing operations.
