Fiji lags over a decade behind global aviation standards

Fiji has been out of step with international aviation security standards for more than a decade after failing to ratify three key conventions adopted in 2010 and 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka told Parliament on Thursday that no substantive progress had been made to adopt the Beijing Convention, Beijing Protocol, and Montreal Convention — despite expectations they would be ratified within two to five years.

“We are talking about 2010 and 2014 here and regrettably, no substantive progress was made towards the ratification of these vital instruments,” Mr Gavoka said in response to Opposition MP Virendra Lal.
“As a result, Fiji has been out of step with international aviation standards, particularly in addressing emerging threats to aviation security and modernising our security legal framework.”

The Beijing Convention addresses threats such as using aircraft as weapons and unlawfully transporting weapons of mass destruction. The Beijing Protocol expands hijacking offences to include cyber-attacks and remote aircraft takeovers.

The Montreal Convention sets a uniform legal framework for airline liability in passenger injury cases — already in force in 141 countries, including Fiji’s major aviation partners.

Mr Gavoka cited the 2021 Ryanair incident in Belarus, when a passenger jet was diverted under false pretences, as an example of the urgent need for stronger legal protections.

He said the Coalition Government had now made ratification of the conventions a priority.

“The process of ratification of ICAO instruments is a priority of the Coalition Government and my Ministry,” he told Parliament.