Airfares to Rotuma Drops

People travelling to Rotuma from Nadi International Airport will now pay around $350 for a one way ticket compared to between $600-$700 previously.

This was made possible through the new $12.8 million runway opened by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at Malhaha in Rotuma yesterday. Shaenaz Voss, Fiji Airways Executive general manager, Fiji Link and Group Corporate, International and Government Affairs, said: “The ticket price starts from $350 but then that would depend on the different ATR aircrafts and what was available.” Ms Voss said the previous ticket price was such, because the airline could only carry six passengers and with the improved infrastructure, the big aircrafts could carry at least 50 or 60 people.

“In about three weeks-time, we should be able to carry the same amount back”

Ms Voss said the first service flight to Rotuma on the ATR is scheduled for November 2, this Friday.

For the next three weeks, she said, they would only be able to carry about 35 passengers.

“It is not too bad and we have got a lot of people who were not able to travel for the last two weeks because of the weather.

“Interest is good, I think it will take a long time but Rotuma is closer now and its going to be a lot more cost effective.

“We will be able to sell more seats and then it will get cheaper but at the same time its only about an hour and a half away now.

“We’ve just made travel to Rotuma a lot easier, and cost effective and the most important thing is that it’s a shorter flight now.

“At the moment we will start off with one flight per week as there are lots of seats to sell in one flight a week and if the demand improves then we will relook at an increasing to at least two flights a week,” Ms Voss said.