6 Dec 2002

Fiji opposes open skies agreement in South Pacific

8:34 am on 6 December 2002

The Fiji government says it will not support the new Pacific Islands Air Services Agreement.

The minister for civil aviation, Joe Vosanibola, says this is because it does not offer any benefits to Fiji and local airlines, and adversely affects its investments.

Mr Vosanibola says the South Pacific does not have the same population base to have open skies as envisaged in the agreement and some of its small airlines cannot survive if it is adopted.

He says the current bilateral air service agreements have worked well and should be kept to ensure fair and equal opportunities to both parties in agreement.

Mr Vosanibola made the comments at a meeting of the Association of South Pacific Airlines.