Ex-Flight Attendant Takes Termination in Stride
He is among the 758 staff members who were terminated by the national airline because of setbacks from the pandemic
Former Fiji Airways flight attendant, Avikash Lal, is taking his termination in his stride.
Mr Lal was recently featured in our Amazing Fijians write-up, a section dedicated to Fijians doing something positive for themselves or paying it forward to others out of this COVID-19 crisis.
The national athletics rep is among the 758 staff members who were terminated by the national airline because of setbacks from the pandemic, bringing airlines around the world to a standstill.
He was spotted selling vegetables at the Votualevu Roundabout in Nadi while waiting to be called back to work.
Sadly, this is unlikely to be the case in the near future for him and the hundreds more cabin crew who were recently terminated. This week, Fiji Airways made workforce adjustments as a consequence of the current and foreseeable operating environment. Mr Lal, who turns 25 on June 18 said: “I have accepted what has happened because this is not only the scenario in Fiji, but what has happened all over the world. “Sometimes I think it may seem to be a prank, but it is not, it’s a reality. We have to think about the future in a positive way and think forward. There’s no excuse at all, let’s move on. I am adamant when flights resume they will call me and I will fly again.”
Backup plan
Mr Lal said he had a backup plan to continue with his Trade Certificate in Automotive Engineering which he’s had experience for two years while he worked for Pala’s in Nadi.
“I am urging the public who wish for private vehicle servicing to reach out to me,” Mr Lal said.
Travel memories
Over the four years, Mr Lal said he has visited various international ports such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Hong Kong, Singapore. He has also visited Pacific Island destinations including Apia (Samoa), Tonga, Tarawa (Kiribati), and Nauru. “I guess there is more time to train and work hard on the farm,” he said.