Pasifika Air grounded before take-off
Pasifika Air has been grounded before take-off.
The airline started by businessman Mike Pero was slated to start offering flights between New Zealand and the Cook Islands in June.
In February Pero told RNZ Pasifika Air was looking at taking bookings at the end ofmarch. That never eventuated.
Pero said the reluctance of the Government to establish a Pacific travel bubble had shot down its plans.
‘‘While the dark cloud hanging over global travel remains, we expected a brighter outlook for the Pacific region. The Cooks have never had Covid-19 and there is still no border reopening date, yet the travel bubble with Australia is about to open. Amid this continuing uncertainty, I have reluctantly decided now is not the time to launch Pasifika Air.’’
Without a reopening date set in stone, Pero said it was difficult to lease aircraft because it took three to four months from when it was booked until delivery.
‘‘To commit $3 million to $5m in deposits and insurance just to have two-to-three aircraft sitting on the tarmac makes no commercial sense. We have been offered some very attractive propositions over the past six months but I am not prepared to commit to $60m worth of aircraft and a five-to10-year lease when there is so much uncertainty.’’
Air New Zealand engineering services were also no longer in a position to provide maintenance.
Pero said his personal investment in the airline had amounted to several hundred thousand dollars. All staff and contractors would be paid and commitments honoured, he said.
Despite the setback, Pero was bullish about the airline’s future, saying the door was open to resurrecting the plans should conditions change.