VIRGIN Blue Airlines will increase the number of flights from Australia to Fiji from June.
The Australia-based airline’s Pacific carrier Pacific Blue flights will be increased to 24 flights a week from June 17.
Currently it has 20 non stop flights to/from Sydney and Brisbane.
Virgin Blue chief commercial officer Stefan Pichler said the decision to boost services followed ongoing and steady demand for Fiji flights, with strong growth experienced in direct flights from Sydney and Brisbane.
He said since Pacific Blue launched flights in September 2004, it had delivered more than 161,000 Australians to Fiji who had injected over FJ$252-million into the local economy.
“The new Pacific Blue flights will be a further stimulus for this growth and will ensure Fiji is even more attractive as a destination, especially for the conference and convention market who will have the flexibility of a daily flight to tailor their conference to their specific needs and timings,” Mr Pichler said.
He said airline representatives were spending two days in Fiji discussing Pacific Blue’s ongoing strategy to further increase visitor numbers.
Interim Tourism Minister Tom Ricketts said the impact of Pacific Blue on the Fiji market was substantial.
It has already brought over 200,000 Australian visitors to Fiji since its inception and despite the overall downturn it has grown its market by 15 percent for the period January-August, Mr Ricketts said.
Mr Ricketts said the Australian market could recover and grow back to 210,000 arrivals by the end of this year but it needed a joint venture from all stakeholders.
He said low cost carriers such as Virgin Blue are also good for developing services out of secondary airports. “They cater for the budget traveler and increase potential market size from those who would otherwise not afford it.”
ASHWINI PRASAD
Friday, April 18, 2008
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