19 Sep 2013

Fiji Airways boss defends financing arrangement for purchase of planes

6:58 pm on 19 September 2013

The chief executve of Fiji Airways has responded to questions by some of Fiji's political parties about the purchasing of planes from Airbus.

Stefan Pichler was responding to accusations that the financing arrangements for the purchase of the 3 planes was not open and accountable.

He told the Fiji Sun the role of Waqavuka Financing was to act as a third party to purchase the planes, and it was formed in Ireland with the sole of aim of enabling import credit from European banks.

Mr Pichler says Waqavuka Financing will own the planes until Fiji Airways pays off the loans from the German banks.

He also says Fiji Airways' loan from the Fiji National Provident Fund will be repaid according to the agreement, and the loan is secured by a guarantee.

The Fiji Labour Party and the People's Democratic Party have criticised the move to purchase Airbus aircraft rather Boeings.