Fiji Airways interests

Tukai Lagonilakeba, Nadi

Our National Airline must protect its own commercial interests first and foremost in this day and era, it must answer to its clients or customers, travel agents or suppliers in order to survive in this competitive business.

This is in line with International Best Practices, ATS is a totally different entity and they must be allowed to stand and fight their own war and be accountable for their own actions.

I wrote the same last year when the Union workers at ATS walked off their jobs where I mentioned the same because Fiji Airways suffered and had to bust their budget to accommodate the irresponsible and unlawful strike.

Air Terminal Services is a monopoly and they should never be allowed to hold the Airline Industry and our Economy to ransom as and when they feel like because Fiji Airways stands to lose a lot through compensating the many loses incurred through the many ground handling thefts.

I personally feel the Minister for Tourism, Premila Kumar, must get all the stakeholders involved to find a solution to this nonsense in protecting the bigger interests of the nation. Being spoon fed and taking things for granted for a very long time is totally wrong and unacceptable.

The outspoken SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya should be more concerned about the long term viability and survival of our only national airline and our country’s economy than the interest of the few union members at ATS she was seen supporting during their strike last year.

In looking at doing their own Ground Handling and Catering the management and the Board of FA must be commended and our Government encourages and supports them all the way as it is the only viable option.

It is prudent, sensible and responsible commercial decision.