Korean Air Pulling Out Was Their Own Commercial Decision: Attorney-General

Korean Air pulling out of Fiji was their own commercial decision, says Attorney-General and Minister responsible for Civil Aviation Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

He said there were changes in the Korean Airways management and Fiji had to respect their decision. “We are not going to go and subsidise. Do you know how much Cook Islands subsidise Air New Zealand just for Air New Zealand to fly to Cook IslandS, They pay them $15 million a year,” he said.

“We don’t have a similar situation, nor do we want to be in that situation, we want our National Airline to be strong.

“We of course want Korean Air to come but if they have made the decision not to come then we respect that, but let’s be positive.”

He added that we should be pushing for people to fly through Fiji Airways on its Narita route which is probably one hour from Seoul in Korea.

“We’ve got the connectivity now,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

He added that our National Airline was now flying to countries in Asia, Hong Kong and more.

Fiji Airways Ground-handling and Catering

Opposition Member and SODELPA president Ro Filipe Tuisawau claimed that comments made by Mr SayedKhaiyum on Fiji Airways expressing its interest to do its own ground handling and its own catering were threats to ATS workers.

He said it was a direct threat to more than 400 workers at ATS.

In his response Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said if Fiji Airways got into its own ground handling and catering business, they would be hiring people, and this would create jobs. Some of the ATS workers might consider joining Fiji Airways.

“The reality is you don’t hold on to something that does not run professionally,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.