We will now have to pay less fare to visit our homeland, Fiji, compared to before after the commencement of the direct flights between Nadi and New Caledonia.
These were the words of the members of the Fijian community in New Caledonia while speaking to fijivillage News in Noumea.
Kaminiele Seru, who is originally from Dravuni Kadavu and has been living in New Caledonia for the past 50 years says he is very happy that the direct flights between the two countries have started as they will not pay expensive fares to visit their families in Fiji.
He travelled to Fiji in the inaugural Noumea flight returning to Fiji.
Meanhwile, after being traditionally welcomed at the La Tontouta Airport in Noumea, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka highlighted that we are not strangers in the country and that the people from New Caledonia are a part of us and we are a part of them.
He highlighted that our forefathers had connected us by the sea, and now we are connected by air.
Gavoka says we are Pacific Islanders, and this new route will make things way easier for people to travel between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister further says that we used to fly with the other airline that services the route, and the fare was too high.
He also says the new direct flights from Fiji to New Caledonia will present opportunities to boost tourism, trade, and economic growth as it opens avenues for cultural exchange, collaboration, and mutual understanding.
Gavoka says the air travel between the two destinations commemorates the strengthening of Pacific community, the forging of closer ties between our nations, and the advancement of regional trade and unity.
He says it will not only attract tourists to explore the beauty of the nation but will also facilitate business interactions, fostering a more robust regional economy and steps towards building a stronger regional community.
The Deputy PM also highligted that Fiji Airways has also started working towards using alternative fuels whereby each flight from Singapore to Nadi will be operated using a small sustainable aviatuon fuel components which will gradually incorporate more SAF into their operations until they reach the UN Aviation conference goal of 5% by 2030.
The Deputy Prime Minister with the Fiji delegation, including customers, Fiji Airways officials, Fijian Drua players, staff, and the media, were part of the Inaugural direct flight to Noumea this morning.
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