Air Pacific

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Air Pacific
IATA
FJ		 ICAO
FJI		 Callsign
PACIFIC
Founded 1947
Hubs Nadi International Airport
Secondary hubs Nausori International Airport
Member lounge Tabua Club
Subsidiaries Pacific Sun
Fleet size 14
Destinations 17 International & 10 Domestic
Parent company Government of Fiji (51%)
Headquarters Nadi, Fiji
Key people John Campbell (Managing Director and CEO)
Website: http://www.airpacific.com

Air Pacific Limited, Fiji's international airline, is based in Nadi, Fiji Islands, operating international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America and Hong Kong. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas, American Airlines, and Alaska Airlines[1] (though not the larger Oneworld airline alliance to which Qantas and American are key members).

Contents

[edit] History

The airline was established and started operations in 1951. It was founded by Australian aviator Harold Gatty. Prior to 1971 the company operated as Fiji Airways. Air Pacific began service to the USA in 1983. Except for 2001, the airline has been profitable for every year from 1995 to 2004. Over 500,000 passengers were carried in 2004. The airline was responsible for starting the first ever scheduled international services to the capital of Australia, Canberra. While the service operated twice weekly for a number of months it is now suspended.[citation needed]

Air Pacific acquired Sun Air, a domestic airline, in 2007. This formed the basis for Pacific Sun, Air Pacific's domestic and regional subsidiary.

Air Pacific is owned by the Fiji Government (51%), Qantas (46.32%). Air New Zealand and the governments of Kiribati, Tonga, Nauru and Samoa each hold minor stakes. It employed 771 people as of March 2007[2].

[edit] Destinations

As of May 2009, Air Pacific operates scheduled services to the following destinations:[3]


[edit] Fleet

The Air Pacific fleet includes the following aircraft (at May 2009):

Air Pacific Fleet
Aircraft Total Passengers
(Tabua (Business) Class/Pacific Voyager)		 Routes Notes
Britten-Norman Islander 3 9 Intra-Fijian routes Operated by Pacific Sun
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 3 19 Intra-Fijian routes Operated by Pacific Sun
ATR42-500 2 44 Intra-Fijian routes, Tuvalu Operated by Pacific Sun
Boeing 737-700 1 112 (12/100) Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia, Honolulu
Boeing 737-800 2 162 (8/154) Honolulu, Australia,
New Zealand, Pacific Islands
Boeing 767-300ER 1 256 (18/238) Melbourne, Brisbane, Auckland, Hong Kong [begins December 18] Replacement Aircraft Boeing 787-9
Boeing 747-400 2 458 (28/430) Los Angeles, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland Being bought from Singapore Airlines when lease expires (2009).
Boeing 787-9 (8 orders) For delivery in 2011-2016
TOTALS: 14
(8 Orders)
Air Pacific 747-400 ("Island of Vanua Levu") taxiing at Sydney Airport


Air Pacific have recently expanded into the Fiji domestic market with the recent takeover of Sun Air. Rebranded as Pacific Sun, the takeover acquired 6 original Sun Air aircraft as well as the addition of 2 ATR42-500 purchased from Air Mauritius in mid 2006.

[edit] Controversies

[edit] Pilot Exodus

There has been a mass exodus of local pilots from Air Pacific to airlines in the Middle East, Australia and also Asia.[5] The pilots association has credited the pilot exodus to a gap in working conditions between locals and expatriates.[6]

[edit] Profit

Air Pacific announced an after tax profit of FJ$25 million (US$17 million) for the financial year of 2007. The after tax profit for the previous financial year was only FJ$17,000 (US$11,500). [7]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Air Pacific
  1. ^ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2009264001_webalaska26.html?syndication=rss
  2. ^ Flight International 27 March 2007
  3. ^ "Air Pacific route map". Air Pacific. http://www.airpacific.com/default.aspx?sid=AP_travelPlanner&pid=AP_Routemap. Retrieved on 2008-04-03. 
  4. ^ Following reviews of the runway surface at Kiritimati (Christmas) Island Air Pacific will suspend flights from 2nd September, 2008 and not recommence services until the runway is repaired to sound operational standards. This decision has been made in the interests of the safety of Air Pacific's passengers, crew and aircraft.
  5. ^ Wise, Margaret (2008-06-24). "Plan to fight pilot exodus". Fiji Times. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=90124. Retrieved on 2008-06-04. 
  6. ^ "Fiji loses pilots over poor working conditions". National Broadcasting Corporation of Papua New Guinea. 2008-06-26. http://www.nbc.com.pg/20080526_Fiji_loses_pilots_over_poor_working_conditions.htm. Retrieved on 2008-06-10. 
  7. ^ "FIJI’S AIR PACIFIC REPORTS $17 MILLION PROFIT". Pacific Islands Report. 2008-06-29. http://pidp.eastwestcenter.org/pireport/2008/May/05-30-04.htm. Retrieved on 2008-06-08. 
v • d • e
Airlines of Fiji
Civil Air Ensign of Fiji
v • d • e
Qantas Group
Main airline
Other airlines
Affiliate airlines
Other Services
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Pacific"
Personal tools