The Fijian Government has confirmed a signing ceremony for the Air Services Agreement between India and Fiji will be held very soon.

This follows the approval given by the Indian Union Cabinet for the signing of a new Air Services Agreement between the two countries.

Attorney-General, Minister for Economy and Civil Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said the announcement was great news.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the Fijian Government had already approved the ASA but India had to go through cabinet which they have now approved and come back.

He further confirmed Fiji Airways is already carrying out various negotiations with various airlines for codesharing and this will be announced soon.

“It does not mean that Fiji Airways will have direct flights to India. It means Fiji Airways will have codesharing agreements,” he said.

And with Fiji Airways now flying directly to Singapore twice weekly, codesharing should be an ideal option to further onward connectivity.

“By having codeshare and agreements, it makes it a lot easier and to be able to have time slots which is very important.”

What the ASA will allow

What the agreement will mean is Indian carriers can operate to any point in Fiji from points in India.

Also, Fijian carrier, in this case Fiji Airways, can establish direct operations to Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in India.

It can also enter into code share agreement with Indian carriers to Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad apart from points given for direct operation.

The agreement is for updation of the existing agreement between the two countries, which was signed in 1974.

Among other provisions, the designated airline(s) of both countries would have the right to establish offices in each other’s territory for promotion and sale of air services.

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