Fiji Airways CEO and Managing Director, Andre Viljoen says they are working hard to get Travel Ready and Commercial Ready to bring the maximum number of passengers to Fiji when border restrictions ease up.
Viljoen says the airline has engaged with the hotels through a special task force to create substantially discounted holiday packages using the Fijian Government’s Recovery Rebate Package Programme travel stipend and many tax reductions to entice the maximum number of visitors back to Fiji from any market that opens up.
The reductions for these packages are upto 60 to 70% compared to pre-COVID prices.
Viljoen says there is also a misunderstanding regarding the $455 million Government Guarantees.
He says this is not a cash bailout using taxpayer funds provided to Fiji Airways by the Fijian Government.
The CEO says the financiers providing the new loans and the aircraft loan and rental deferrals have undertaken their own due diligence and have satisfied themselves that Fiji Airways can repay their obligations going forward.
He says the Fijian Government’s Guarantees, provide the additional security and comfort for these loans and deferrals.
Viljoen says Government has guaranteed large loans for other government-related entities in the past. He says these guarantees, as required under the law, need to be approved by Parliament, with all relevant details disclosed.
