A lot of excitement over Air Pacific name change

There is a lot of excitement that Air Pacific’s name change to Fiji Airways will take the airline in the right direction with people easily identifying the airline with Fiji.

Air Pacific’s Managing Director and CEO Dave Pflieger said even online aviation related searches for the word Fiji is 10 times greater than the words Air Pacific.

Pflieger said currently there is confusion on the name Air Pacific with a Chinese air-conditioning company Cathay Pacific and Cebu Pacific.

He said responses from Air Pacific’s core markets in Australia and NZ also overwhelmingly said in a research that they prefer an airline with the name Fiji when asked which names would best represent Fiji’s airlines.

Air Pacific started as Fiji Airways in 1951.

It was founded by Australian aviator Harold Gatty.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said it is exciting times ahead for the national airline as a new interior cabin design will be revealed in the coming months.

He said Air Pacific is vital to the economy, and the government will continue to provide the necessary assistance to the board and the management.