THE Pacific Islands Forum has welcomed the return of Nauru Airlines’ direct service from Nauru to Suva.
Pacific Islands Forum secretary general Baron Waqa said the resumption of this service had been a long time coming.
He said this service was important for the region, in particular for both Nauruans and Fijians who would benefit greatly from this, given not many international flights flew in directly to the Nausori International Airport.
“You must remember as well that flying into Nausori is special for the relationship between Fiji and Nauru that was established years and years ago by our founding fathers –Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Hammer de Roburt,” Mr Waqa said in an interview.
“So now I am very pleased to see this happen, and we look forward to greater things happening and coming out of this arrangement.”
Mr Waqa added the new service would also benefit Forum member countries cut down travel costs for meetings in the region.
“Meetings in our region is very very expensive to travel to, and especially for our Micronesian brothers and sisters up North, they have always had to fly to Japan, or through Honolulu and that is very very expensive,” he told The Fiji Times.
“But with Nauru island hop providing this direct connection to Suva where most of the meetings are held is welcoming. It is going to cut down the cost of travel.
“We’ve been hearing about this so many times from our leaders, our ministers and others about true connectivity of the region, getting us connected. This is a really good thing and we welcome this.
“The Forum has to congratulate DPM (Viliame) Gavoka and Nauru for a job well done in connecting us back together to Suva.”
Mr Waqa said this was a start of one leg of service into Suva.
“There are many many islands out in the wider Pacific Ocean that are just scattered everywhere, we want to connect everyone together and utilise the services that not just Nauru Airlines but Fiji Airways and others who can come in and assist connect our Blue Pacific.”
Nauru Airlines launched its inaugural direct flight to Suva last Thursday after more than a decade of ceasing that route in the 1990s.
—
Note: This article was first published under the headline: Waqa welcomes Nauru Airlines’ direct service in Page14 of the print version of The Fiji Times dated Tuesday September 2, 2025
