Airports Fiji Limited has confirmed it has applied to the Fiji Commerce Commission for increases in upper airspace air navigation charges.

AFL executive chairman, Faiz Khan, emphasised this proposed increase will only apply to international flights navigating in Nadi flight information region (FIR) over six million square kilometres.

“It does not apply to any other aeronautical charges such as landing fees, terminal navigation fees, security fee, incinerator fee and parking fees,” he said.

“All aeronautical charges are regulated by the Commerce Commission.”

Mr Khan further stressed the Commerce Commission will carry out stakeholder consultations as per our laws before deciding upon the application.

“As the submissions are before the Commerce Commission that has not decided upon it, it will be premature for AFL to comment any further,” he said.

Newly-appointed chief executive of Fiji Commerce Commission, Joel Abraham, confirmed receiving the submission.

He said they have subsequently written to all affected stakeholders seeking submission on the proposed increase.

“The final date for submissions is November 11,” Mr Abraham said.

“Once the submissions are given, we will analyse/decide and then make recommendations to our board.

“Our normal time for processing submissions is three months from date of receipt, however, we should be able to process before three months and make submission.”

The proposed increase

The increase is proposed for upper airspace air navigation charges only and not the aeronautical charges as a whole.

It is applicable for example for a flight from USA to Auckland and which flies over Nadi flight information region (FIR) to get into Auckland.

Nadi FIR includes Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Wallis and Futuna.

Feedback:  rachnal@fijisun.com.fj