Fiji suspends code-share flight with Air Niugini

The Solomon Airlines has strongly condemned the action of the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji for suspending its code-share flight with Air Niugini however the Fijian government stresses that it is ready for talks to break the impasse.

This came after the airline’s current Honiara-Nadi code share flights operated by Air Niugini were suspended last week forcing many passengers booked through Solomon Airlines to miss their flights.

In a letter to the Solomon Airlines, Fiji’s Permanent Secretary for Civil Aviation, Sharvada Sharma stated that given the breach of the Air Services Agreement and the suspension of services to Fiji by Solomon Airlines, any designated airline of the Solomon Islands will not be allowed to operate or sell services to Fiji from the Solomon Islands.

Solomon Airlines CEO, Captain Ron Sumsum said Fiji Airways has had every opportunity to code share with Air Niugini from Nadi to Port Moresby but has decided not to participate.

He added its approach to this entire situation can only be described as a ‘Bully Boy’ approach and one that they do not intend taking too lightly.

Attorney-General and Minister for Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said after the Solomons Government banned two successive Fiji Airways flights from Nadi to Honiara in breach of our Air Services Agreement, the decision was made to suspend all Solomon Airlines flights until the matter is resolved

Sayed-Khaiyum explained that the suspension includes selling seats on airlines designated by Solomon Islands as code share partners.

He said they regret the inconvenience to the travelling public but this action was triggered by Solomon Islands and the responsibility lies with Honiara to make the first move.

Sayed-Khaiyum reiterates that Fiji is willing to hold discussions to break the impasse, but he made Fiji’s conditions very clear.