Permission granted, but too late for Fiji charter flights

By CHRIS DANIELS

Super-cheap charter flights to Fiji from travel agency Flight Centre look unlikely to start soon, despite official approval for the flights to begin.

The Flight Centre last year joined forces with aviation company Airwork in a plan to start cheap charter flights to Fiji, using a Boeing 737 aircraft.

With prices cut to well below existing fares offered by Air NZ and Air Pacific, the move prompted a rash of ticket discounting. Air NZ even activated its budget carrier Freedom, pushing it on to Fijian routes that were due to be flown by the Flight Centre-Airwork venture.

This all fell over last week, however, after a delay in getting Fijian Government approval. This was finally given on Thursday, but the Flight Centre says there are no immediate plans to resuscitate its scheme.

Company spokeswoman Clare Naden said Airwork had not approached Flight Centre since it received approval from Fiji to fly there.

"They have the licence, it's partly up to them, and I guess partly up to us if we want to approach them.

"We still think it's got potential, but we haven't done anything yet."

Airwork chief executive Hugh Jones said the Boeing 737 was being leased around the Pacific region.

Flights between New Zealand and Fiji are operated by only Air New Zealand and Air Pacific, a joint venture 51 per cent owned by the Fiji Government and 46 per cent by Qantas Airways.