Air Pacific’s Boeing 767-300 at Hong Kong’s Chek Lap Kok International Airport. Yesterday the plane flew its last service to Hong Kong from Nadi. Photo: airliners.net

By AJESH RAJ in Hong Kong

Out with the old. In with bigger and better. That’s the good news for anyone travelling to and from Hong Kong, including to the Sevens.
Air Pacific’s ageing and sometimes troublesome Boeing 767-300 jet yesterday morning flew out to Hong Kong from Nadi International Airport on its final flight for the airline.
The Boeing 767-300 has been replaced as part of the revamp and improvement of the Air Pacific fleet being driven by managing director/chief executive officer Dave Pflieger. The 256-seat twin-engine plane – named Island of Taveuni – had been with the airline since 1994.
From Thursday all the Hong Kong flights will now be operated by one of the airline’s two 458-seat four-engine Boeing 747-400s.
To coincide with the launch of the Boeing 747-400 services to Hong Kong, Air Pacific also introduced a special fare for people wanting to go support Fiji at the Hong Kong 7s rugby on March 23-25 .SEVENS FARES

It is offering return fares of $1808 inclusive of taxes and surcharges. This is for flights to Hong Kong on either Saturday March 17 or Thursday March 22 .
Passengers also get an extra 7kg of baggage when returning to Nadi after the 7s on Monday March 26.
JAD Travel Services (phone 3315755/9927755) also has special Hong Kong Sevens packages on the Air Pacific flights. These packages include accommodation and tickets to the 7s.

NEW PLANES

The Boeing 747-400s are expected to operate the Hong Kong services until next year when Air Pacific starts taking delivery of its three brand-new, fuel-efficient Airbus A330-200s.
In the leadup to this Thursday’s first Boeing 747-400 service Air Pacific is holding a series of promotional events in Hong Kong.
They include Fijian entertainment, street shows, and television specials.