Operations run smoothly at Nadi International Airport

Strike? What Strike? say passengers

Passengers arriving at Nadi International Airport did not experience any hiccups. A departing passenger also said all was normal.

Arriving home for the Christmas holidays, Vini Waqa was worried about what to expect upon arrival because of news on the Air Terminal Services (ATS) saga.

“While still in the United States we had been reading all the posts on social media about what happened and we thought we would have delays and I was really worried,” she said.

“But, when we got here, everything was normal. I mean, it was fast and I really thought the strike was over until we were driving out of the airport then my grandson showed me where they were picketing.”

Angela Lal, whose mother was on the flight, said her elderly mum enjoyed the flight over and didn’t have a problem at all.

“Mum said the Fiji Airways staff were so accommodating and looked after her well on the plane and when she disembarked. She didn’t even know about the strike by ATS until we told her at home,” Ms Lal said.

“She was surprised. She said that she was definitely not aware.” At the airport, operation was smooth and temporary measures put in place helped tremendously. “Check-ins has been without hiccups. There are ample people working and it’s normal as can be,” Thomas Dill, a passenger returning to Brisbane, Australia said yesterday.

In an earlier interview, ATS Board chairperson Riyaz SayedKhaiyum said they were working with all stakeholders to ensure that operations were smooth.

“It’s of utmost importance to us. This airport has to remain open and we have to continue offering our best to everyone using this airport,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said. The impasse has now entered into its sixth day and more workers were seen returning to work after having signed the letters admitting they had done wrong in abandoning their work stations to attend a stop-work protest last Saturday.

“I just started and after giving it much thought, I decided to return to work because I need to earn money for my family. I understand the plight of those still on strike, but I have to also think of my family,” said a passenger assistant who wished to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation.