Air Pacific Announces Fleet Changes And New Schedules for 2012

July 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Nadi, Fiji - National Airline Air Pacific announced today that it will be adding another B737-800 to its fleet, retiring its B767-300ER, and revising its schedules in order to add more flights to Australia and more seats to Hong Kong and New Zealand.

Fiji's international airline will be returning its leased B767-300ER aircraft in mid January 2012 and replacing it with an additional B737-800 that is due to arrive this November.

"Replacing our 1994 vintage B767-300ER with an almost new B737-800 is the first step in Air Pacific's fleet renewal process. The additional B737-800 will significantly improve flight schedules to our key Australia market, and it will allow us to put our B747-400 back into Hong Kong, adding much needed seats to this fast growing route," said Managing Director and CEO, Dave Pflieger.

"Our Sydney customers will be the big winners with this new schedule, as we are moving from 7 to 13 weekly flights (10 weekly B737 flights and 3 weekly B747-400 flights).

This will not only allow both morning and afternoon departures to Fiji, it will also allow us to offer same day connections from Nadi International Airport to Fiji's outer island resorts and hotels.

Our schedule changes are in direct response to requests from our customers and travel industry partners, and the changes will make travel much more convenient for people on a fiji vacation who are headed out to see the beauty of the nearby Yasawa and Mamanuca islands; going to resorts in our Northern or Southern islands; or going diving, surfing, or big game fishing on some of Fiji's smaller islands," said Mr Pflieger.

The new flights to Sydney will depart Nadi everyday except Sunday at 6:30 PM to overnight in Australia before returning to Fiji the next day at 6:30 AM," said Mr. Josef Loew, Air Pacific's Chief Commercial Officer. This means our 737s will arrive back in Nadi at 12 noon, giving passengers more time for connecting flights and more time for their vacations.

In addition, starting in January, the Hong Kong route will be flown by B747-400s allowing Air Pacific to add an additional 165 seats (22%) per week of capacity into this market. "Since the B747-400 is much larger than the B767-300ER that it is replacing, we will initially revise our schedule to two flights per week; but we look forward to adding another B747 flight to Hong Kong when demand calls for it," said Mr. Loew. For Nadi-Auckland, the 2012 flight schedule will remain unchanged, but Air Pacific will increase seat capacity on this route by increasing B747-400 service from one to three flights per week.

"Our fleet and 2012 schedule changes will create a much more efficient and effective network that is an essential part of our overall plan to create a better airline for our customers," said Mr. Pflieger.

Air Pacific will publicise the new schedules and start selling these additional flights starting on Wednesday, July 20th. Customers should check http://www.airpacific.com for more details starting next week.

Note to Editors:
Air Pacific and its subsidiary Pacific Sun together fly about 400 flights per week.

The company operates B747, B767, and B737 aircraft from Fiji to 15 cities in 10 countries. Destinations include Hong Kong, USA Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands. Air Pacific aircraft bring in 68% of all visitors who fly to Fiji. It employs over 950 employees, earns revenues of F$600 million, and contributes 12% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Pacific Sun operates a combination of ATR 42-500s and De Havilland Twin Otter aircraft on Fiji's 10 domestic island routes and regional flights to Tonga,Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

The World's Friendliest airline encourages you to check our flight schedule and great air fares on http://www.airpacific.com. You can also call Air Pacific's Sales Centre at (679) 3304388 or (679) 6720888.

Air Pacific Private Mail Bag, Nadi Airport, Fiji Islands
P +679 672 0888
F +679 672 0563
E reservations@airpacific.com.fj
W http://www.airpacific.com

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Air Pacific, the Fiji island's national airline, has earned an envious reputation as the prime carrier on the Australia-Fiji holiday route, offering typically gracious Fijian service.