Fiji Airways chief executive officer Andre Viljoen and Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill have done a wonderful job in keeping the industry stable during COVID-19 and to date, says Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka.
While appearing on The Fiji Times’ online platform, The Lens @177 on Wednesday, Mr Gavoka said both men were exceptional in their role of bringing more investments and growing the country’s economy.
“Both are very special people,” Mr Gavoka said.
“You look at Fiji Airways, many alliances fell by the wayside during COVID-19, and just disappeared, Fiji Airways survived, and it is doing extremely well.
“The taking on a weekly basis is surpassing anything we ever had in the past and of course, is highly rated now with top rewards and other routes opening up.
“We needed someone like Andre at a time like COVID, he’s got experience with South African Airlines, Air Mauritius.
“But you know, he himself is saying that he won’t be here forever but he’s grooming some special people at the Fiji Airways.”
Mr Gavoka said Mr Viljoen had reduced the expatriate content of Fiji Airways, saying that his next in line would be 90 per cent locals. “Right under him would be the division heads and I think the vast majority there are local people.
“In a similar fashion, Tourism Fiji, Brent is the right time and right person, he has done a wonderfully great job.
“But right under him is a line of people who are ready to take over. “We want to grow our local management and they are ready to take over.”
Mr Gavoka said they were instrumental in bringing back former cabin crew and staff who were let go during the height of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Once we came in, we asked them to take back all the staff that were laid off during COVID and a lot of the guys have come back and similarly Air Terminal Services (ATS).
“They are responsive, very inclusive in the way they do things, and they respect the wishes of the government of the day.”
