Pacific Sun promises changes to domestic services

A promise is now made by Fiji’s only domestic carrier, Pacific Sun that some challenges that domestic airline users have been facing will be a thing of the past.

Pacific Sun is now promising improved services after the installation of proper weather equipment in their Twin Otter planes.

Previously the three Twin Otters could not fly in inclement weather.

This resulted in flight cancellations during rainy and windy conditions.

These 18 seater planes service Savusavu, Taveuni and Kadavu as the airports in these areas only have the capacity for the Twin Otter planes.

Over the past four months, Pacific Sun has experienced significant operational challenges due to the maintenance programme to modernize safety and increase reliability of the Twin Otters that they operate.

In a meeting with the Civil Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, the Pacific Sun General Manager Air Pacific CEO and Managing Director and a Pacific Sun Director said the three aircraft were all given nose-to-tail inspections by Otter maintenance experts, and had weather radar and GPS equipment installed.

About $300,000 has been spent to install the equipment.

Pacific Sun has commenced daily operations with two Twin Otter aircraft using the third aircraft for additional pilot training for the pilots to familiarize themselves with the new equipment.

The new schedule will consist of approximately two flights per day to Savusavu, Taveuni and Kadavu.
 
Fijivillage has also raised the question with Pacific Sun on what is being done in relation to the flight delays and cancellations for the Suva, Nadi and Labasa routes.

We have been told that two ATR aircraft service these routes and there are only issues when one of the aircraft goes on regular maintenance checks.

Pacific Sun said they then hire a convair aircraft to service the routes.

Other reasons for the delays or cancellations are due to adverse weather conditions or mechanical issues noticed just about 1 hour before the flight.

This results in all passengers not informed of the delay or cancellation as they are already on their way to the airport.

Stay with us as we will have more on domestic flight services this afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Assistant Manager for Taveuni Island Resort and Spa said the flight disruptions by Pacific Sun are really affecting the number of tourists going to Taveuni.

According to Anne Osborne, it would be great if more connecting flights from Australia and New Zealand are available to the Garden Island everyday.

Osborne also highlighted that the airfares are also very high.

Meanwhile, the front office manager for Namale Resort and Spa in Savusavu said flight delays and cancellations are affecting their tourists mostly from the United States.

Miliakera Semievo said they mostly rely on Island Hoppers for Charter to transport tourists from Labasa to Savusavu when flights get disrupted.

Semievo added that improvement in flights will greatly boost tourist numbers.


Story by: Vijay Narayan and Ronal Deo