Airlines

Fiji’s flag carrier forecasts it will complete its takeover of a local airline and launch domestic flights by June. Air Pacific had hoped to do this last December, but it has taken longer than expected.

Because of a confidentiality clause John Campbell, Air Pacific’s chief executive, cannot reveal what airline Air Pacific plans to buy, but it is widely known that turboprop operator Sun Air is its target. Air Pacific will replace Sun Air’s 19-seat aircraft with a pair of ATR-42s and several other interim aircraft.

Air Pacific’s move into domestic operations is largely designed to give it an advantage over its low-cost rivals Pacific Blue, which flies to Fiji from Australia, and Freedom Air, which flies from New Zealand. Those carriers lack cabotage among Fiji’s numerous islands. With its own domestic network Air Pacific will be able to feed interisland connections to and from its own overseas flights. ■