A-G: There Is No Monopoly
Flights to and from the Waiqele, Labasa Airport, in the Northern Division are expected to increase as night landing lights have been sorted on the runway by Airports Fiji Limited, says A-G
Acting Prime Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has reiterated that there is no monopoly on the routes taken by Fiji Link for flights to Labasa.
This comes after Opposition NFP member, Parmod Chand, speaking in Parliament on Monday said that domestic fares to Labasa, for the first eight seats were around $60.
Mr Chand said while this was acknowledged, there were still concerns why sales of seats after those 8 seats were retailing at what he claimed was around $300-$400.
“What is the Government doing? We consider it a monopoly and stops economic development,” Mr Chand said.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Mr Chand knew that competition did exist.
He said competition did exist against Fiji Link and that was from Northern Air. The owner was a former NFP candidate.
“Northern Airways has flights to Labasa, so there is competition. It is irresponsible for the Honourable Member to say there is a monopoly on that route,’’ Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.
“There is no monopoly. Maybe he needs to understand what monopoly means. Monopoly means only one operator, there are two operators, and these people are here for their personal agendas.”
He said that flights to and from the Waiqele, Labasa Airport, in the Northern Division were expected to increase as night landing lights had been installed by Fiji Airports Limited.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said flights to Labasa may increase to Vanua Levu and the economy maybe further enhanced.
However, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said in order to have flights landing at night a particular hill close to the airport would also need lights.
He said the hill was in the way and they needed to put lights there or a certain level of that hill needed to be removed.
Meanwhile, Government MP Howard Politini asked, if Mr Sayed-Khaiyum could reassure the House that Fiji Airways fleet was safe and secure during cyclones as it was the catalyst for economic development of the country.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji Airways was of great importance to the Fijian economy.
He said Fiji Airways had a corporate emergency response plan which covered both Fiji Link and Fiji Airways in terms of the disasters.
Edited by George Kulamaiwasa
