Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Viliame Gavoka has urged MPs to support and celebrate Fiji Airways rather than focus on what he described as “insignificant issues”.
Speaking in Parliament yesterday, Gavoka defended the national airline as Parliament considered a Government guarantee for an additional $200 million in Fiji Airways borrowings.
“Mr Speaker, sir, we need to support Fiji Airways,” Gavoka said.
“We should not be picking on insignificant issues at a time like this, and we should support them and celebrate what they are doing.”
His comments came amid criticism in Parliament over aspects of the airline’s service and operations.
Gavoka pointed to Fiji Airways’ membership in the oneworld alliance as an indication of the standards the airline is required to maintain.
“You don’t just become a oneworld [member] unless you subscribe to a different standard of service,” he said.
Gavoka said the airline’s management and operational structure were necessary to support a product capable of meeting the quality standards required for membership of the global airline alliance.
He also sought to clarify the proposed $200 million Government guarantee, stressing that the Government was not giving Fiji Airways $200 million.
“We are guaranteeing a loan, and for those of us who understand this, we are not handing Fiji Airways $200 million,” Gavoka said.
“We are guaranteeing that they will be borrowing based on their own borrowing capability and who they may deal with.”
Gavoka also pointed to Fiji Airways’ recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, when the aviation industry was severely affected by international travel restrictions.
“They came through COVID-19,” he said.
He said arrangements had been made to support the airline during that period and maintained that Fiji Airways was now servicing those loans well.
Gavoka urged Parliament to recognise the airline’s performance and the importance of supporting the national carrier rather than concentrating on issues he considered minor.
