21 FIJIANS ARRIVE FROM MANILA ONBOARD AIRCALIN

21 Fijians, who were stranded since the COVID-19 pandemic, finally returned home yesterday on a flight from Manila, Philippines.

These included Fijians who worked onboad the P&O Cruises Australia cruise ships.

They arrived on an A330neo repatriation flight by Aircalin, which is the international airline of New Caledonia.

French ambassador Jean-François Fitou said: “On board the flight were Fijians, Ni-Vanuatus, and New Caledonians.

“The flight returned with six New Caledonians who lived in Suva who did not make it during the last repatriation flight on April 13 but it was during the lockdown in Suva.”

The 21 Fijians were escorted to Governmentfunded isolation facilities where they self-quarantine for 28 days.