Pacific Blue Airlines announced plans to increase the number of flights from Australia to Fiji, with the introduction of two new services from June this year. The announcement comes in the wake of statistics that show the island nation is in the midst of a tourism “sweet spot” for Australian travellers. Since Pacific Blue launched flights in Sep-04, it has delivered more than 161,000 Australian tourists to Fiji, injecting over FJD252 million in to the local economy.The Brisbane-Fiji passenger market has grown by 66,684 passengers, or 82% since Pacific Blue’s entry on this route, while the Sydney-Fiji passenger market has grown by 59,143 passengers or 26%. The number of Australian residents travelling to Fiji has increased by 23.4%.The strong statistics have given Pacific Blue the confidence to add two weekly services from Brisbane to Fiji from 17-Jun-08, taking it to a daily flight frequency.The daily Brisbane-Fiji flights will compliment the existing 10 return direct flights a week to Fiji from Sydney. Pacific Blue Airlines announced it will increase its flights from Brisbane to Port Vila in Vanuatu from twice weekly to three times a week, effective 18-Jun-08. Pacific Blue Airlines, the international airline of Virgin Blue, first launched flights to Port Vila in Sep-04 and since then, there has been a surge in the number of tourists travelling to the tropical destination. According to the latest Department of Immigration statistics: the Brisbane-Port Vila market has grown by 35,080 passengers or 148% since Pacific Blue launched on the route. Australian visitor arrivals into Vanuatu has increased by 53%.
© Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 19-Apr-08
© Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 19-Apr-08