Air Pacific
Encyclopedia
Air Pacific Limited, Fiji's international airline
, operates international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America
and Hong Kong
. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas
, American Airlines
, and Alaska Airlines
(though not the larger Oneworld
airline alliance
to which Qantas and American are key members). It has its head office at the Air Pacific Maintenance & Administration Centre in Nadi
.
. The company previously operated as Fiji Airways .The airline was previously headquartered on the grounds of Nausori Airport in Suva
.
Air Pacific began service to the USA in 1983. Except for 2001, the airline has been profitable for every year from 1995 to 2004. Over 500,000 passengers were carried in 2004. The airline was responsible for starting the first ever scheduled international services to the capital of Australia, Canberra
. While the service operated twice weekly for a number of months it is now suspended.
Air Pacific acquired Sun Air
, a domestic airline, in 2007. This formed the basis for Pacific Sun
, Air Pacific's domestic and regional subsidiary.
Air Pacific is owned by the Fijian government (51%), Qantas
(46.32%). Air New Zealand
and the governments of Kiribati, Tonga, Nauru
and Samoa each hold minor stakes. It employed 771 people as of March 2007.
In 2008 the airline decided to withdraw from the Japan market. The airline stated that it tried many schemes to re-stimulate demand from Japan, but did not find success. The same year, Air Pacific withdrew its service to Vancouver
, to which it had operated via Honolulu since 2000.
Air Pacific announced a record after tax loss of FJ$65.3 million (US$35.3 million) for the 2009/2010 financial year. The after tax loss for the previous financial year was FJ$5.2 million (US$2.8 million). The chairman Nalin Patel says this was the toughest financial year for the company due to high fuel costs, the impact of new competition, lower fares and the global financial crisis.
In April 2011, it was announced that Air Pacific had cancelled its order for eight Boeing 787
s.
In October 2011, it was announced that Air Pacific had ordered 3 Airbus A330-200 from Airbus.
The Air Pacific fleet consists of Boeing
-built aircraft, as well as Airbus
-orders:
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
, operates international and domestic services around the Pacific and to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
. It is also a partner with the frequent flyer programmes of Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
, American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
, and Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
(though not the larger Oneworld
Oneworld
Oneworld , branded as oneworld, is one of the world's three largest global airline alliances with its central management team, oneworld Management Company, based in New York City, New York, USA. Oneworld was founded in 1999 by American Airlines, British Airways, Canadian Airlines, Cathay Pacific...
airline alliance
Airline alliance
An airline alliance is an agreement between two or more airlines to cooperate on a substantial level. The three largest passenger alliances are the Star Alliance, SkyTeam and Oneworld. Alliances also form between cargo airlines, such as that of WOW Alliance, SkyTeam Cargo and ANA/UPS Alliance...
to which Qantas and American are key members). It has its head office at the Air Pacific Maintenance & Administration Centre in Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
.
History
The airline was established and started operations in 1951. It was founded by Australian aviator Harold GattyHarold Gatty
Harold Charles Gatty was an Australian navigator, inventor, and aviation pioneer...
. The company previously operated as Fiji Airways .The airline was previously headquartered on the grounds of Nausori Airport in Suva
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
.
Air Pacific began service to the USA in 1983. Except for 2001, the airline has been profitable for every year from 1995 to 2004. Over 500,000 passengers were carried in 2004. The airline was responsible for starting the first ever scheduled international services to the capital of Australia, Canberra
Canberra International Airport
Canberra International Airport , now trading as Canberra Airport, is the airport serving Australia's capital city, Canberra, and the city of Queanbeyan, NSW. Located at the eastern edge of North Canberra, it is the 8th busiest airport in Australia. The airport is the main hub for Brindabella Airlines...
. While the service operated twice weekly for a number of months it is now suspended.
Air Pacific acquired Sun Air
Sun Air (Fiji)
Fiji Airlines Limited, trading as Pacific Sun is an airline headquartered at Nadi International Airport in Nadi, Fiji. It operates scheduled services to twelve destinations within the Fijian Islands as well as regionally within the Pacific Islands...
, a domestic airline, in 2007. This formed the basis for Pacific Sun
Pacific Sun
The Pacific Sun was founded in 1963 in California, and is the second longest running alternative weekly in the nation, behind only The Village Voice...
, Air Pacific's domestic and regional subsidiary.
Air Pacific is owned by the Fijian government (51%), Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
(46.32%). Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
and the governments of Kiribati, Tonga, Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
and Samoa each hold minor stakes. It employed 771 people as of March 2007.
In 2008 the airline decided to withdraw from the Japan market. The airline stated that it tried many schemes to re-stimulate demand from Japan, but did not find success. The same year, Air Pacific withdrew its service to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, to which it had operated via Honolulu since 2000.
Air Pacific announced a record after tax loss of FJ$65.3 million (US$35.3 million) for the 2009/2010 financial year. The after tax loss for the previous financial year was FJ$5.2 million (US$2.8 million). The chairman Nalin Patel says this was the toughest financial year for the company due to high fuel costs, the impact of new competition, lower fares and the global financial crisis.
In April 2011, it was announced that Air Pacific had cancelled its order for eight Boeing 787
Boeing 787
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet airliner developed by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It seats 210 to 290 passengers, depending on the variant. Boeing states that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use...
s.
In October 2011, it was announced that Air Pacific had ordered 3 Airbus A330-200 from Airbus.
Fleet
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
-built aircraft, as well as Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
-orders:
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A330-200 | — | 3 | TBD | TBD | TBD | Entry into service 2013 |
| Boeing 737-700 Boeing 737 Next Generation The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners... |
1 | — | 8 | 112 | 120 | |
| Boeing 737-800 Boeing 737 Next Generation The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners... |
3 | — | 8 | 154 | 162 | One leased to Air Pacific |
| Boeing 747-400 Boeing 747-400 The Boeing 747-400 is a major development and the best-selling model of the Boeing 747 family of jet airliners. While retaining the four-engine wide-body layout of its predecessors, the 747-400 embodies numerous technological and structural changes to produce a more efficient airframe... |
2 | — | 28 | 430 | 458 | Leased from Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Singapore Airlines Limited is the flag carrier airline of Singapore. Singapore Airlines operates a hub at Changi Airport and has a strong presence in the Southeast Asia, East Asia, South Asia, and "Kangaroo Route" markets... |
| Boeing 767-300ER Boeing 767 The Boeing 767 is a mid-size, wide-body twin-engine jet airliner built by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. It was the manufacturer's first wide-body twinjet and its first airliner with a two-crew glass cockpit. The aircraft features two turbofan engines, a supercritical wing, and a conventional tail... |
1 | — | 18 | 238 | 256 | Exit from service January 2012 |
| Total | 7 | 3 | ||||