Fiji Airways has extended its cancellation of international flights to the end of August, due to border closures and travel restrictions amid CoViD-19, the airline stated yesterday.

“The cancellation of August services allows us to prepare and position a new updated international schedule for deployment as soon as practical,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen.

“Whether this will be in August remains to be seen. However, we are encouraged by the recent move to ‘Phase 2’ for Fiji in its response to CoViD-19, as well as a travel framework which allows for the creation of specific ‘air corridors’ with certain countries.”

One such corridor under the framework is the ‘Bula Bubble with Fiji’s traditional markets - Australia and New Zealand.

“This framework provides a clear path forward for the two countries to seriously consider opening borders to Fiji, thereby stimulating travel demand.”

Fiji Airways is leading an Industry Taskforce alongside Fijian health authorities to satisfy all requirements for safe international flying under the Government’s framework, he said.

A new network plan for international services will see reduced flying and limited destinations internationally.

Travellers booked to travel in August will be contacted by Fiji Airways. And travellers booked through travel agents and third parties will be contacted by those parties.

Fiji Airways’ freighter flights and Fiji Link domestic services will continue to operate.

Imported CoViD-19 cases

Meanwhile, eight Fijians have been confirmed to have CoViD-19 after arriving in Nadi on a repatriation flight from India on July 1 and remain in quarantine.

According to a statement from the Fijian Government on 10 July, all passengers on that flight have been kept under strict border quarantine conditions from the moment they arrived.