Qantas will expand its codeshare arrangement with Fiji`s national carrier Air Pacific with an increase in capacity on the Melbourne-Nadi route.

From 30 March 2000, the weekly Qantas B767 service from Melbourne to Nadi will be replaced with a codeshare service on Air Pacific, using a larger B747 aircraft.

Qantas Regional General Manager New Zealand and Pacific Islands, Paul Donovan, said expanding the codeshare was a logical progression of an existing strong partnership.

He said Qantas was a major shareholder in Air Pacific, owning 46 percent of the airline.

“Qantas will continue to operate 18 return services a week into Nadi and Suva from Australia through Air Pacific. There will be no impact on existing Qantas operations in Fiji,” he added.

Mr Donovan said Qantas had a strong commitment to supporting the Fijian tourism industry.

“In 1999 Qantas carried 180 000 passengers into and out of Fiji, linking it with Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Honolulu and Los Angeles.”

“We will continue to employ Fiji-based staff to sell and market Qantas and Air Pacific codeshare services,” he said.

Mr Donovan said wholly owned subsidiary, Qantas Holidays, had recorded an increase of more than 25 percent on the sale of holiday packages to Fiji during the 1998-1999 financial year, compared with the previous financial year.

“Qantas Holidays continues to sell the largest number of holidays to Fiji,” he added.

Mr Donovan said Qantas, in conjunction with Air Pacific, had also just completed extensive renovations to the VIP Lounge at Nadi Airport.

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