China Eastern's first regular scheduled flight from Changchun to Singapore on 26 October 2015

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

China Eastern Airlines has launched its first scheduled flight from Changchun to Singapore via Shanghai-Pudong on 26 October 2015 using one of its Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

China Eastern's flights from Changchun to Singapore are on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays while its flights from Singapore to Changchun are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays.

On 26 October 2015, flight MU545 departs from Changchun at 11.35 am, transits in Shanghai-Pudong at 2.25 pm before leaving Pudong at 4.20 pm and touching down in Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3 at 9.55 pm.

The first outbound flight to Changchun, flight MU544 takes off on 27 October 2015 for Changchun at 12.55 am, transits in Pudong at 6.20 am before leaving Pudong at 7.50 am and returning to Changchun at 10.45 am.

China Eastern Airlines first operated a special chartered flight from Changchun to Singapore via Pudong on 30 September 2015.

About Changchun

Changchun is the capital of Jilin Province and the former capital of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. It is the hometown of Pu Yi, the last emperor of China, as his birthplace Puppet Imperial Palace is located in this city. Other tourist attractions of Changchun include South Lake, Wenhua Square, People's Square and Jingyuetan National Forest Park, the largest man-made park in Asia for trekking and skiing.

Changchun is of proximity to Baihe, another city in Jilin Province which is the gateway to Changbaishan National Nature Reserve, a large flora and fauna nature reserve conserved under the UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Program.

ITB Asia 2015 - Travel trade innovation and product diversity

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The eighth edition of ITB Asia, "The Leading Trade Show for the Asian Travel Market", opened its doors on 21 October 2015  at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands in Singapore after the ribbon cutting ceremony with Mr S Iswaran, Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry, Dr Christian Goke, CEO of Messe Berlin and Dr Michael Frenzel, Chairman of World Travel & Tourism Council as the focus took place past 10 am. 

The three-day event kicked-off with a number of powerful keynote panels discussing key trends and opportunities that will shape the future of the travel industry.

The opening panel was represented by industry heavyweights including Expedia, Airbnb and the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC). Personalisation, innovation and technology were cited as some of the leading industry growth drivers. 

Mieke De Schepper, Vice President, APAC the Expedia Group, said, “Mobile is the new default. More than 1 in 4 of our global transactions on Hotels.com in Q2 was booked on a mobile device and we are investing in technology to enable our hotel partners to reach travellers in the way that they want to shop. The speed of innovation is faster than ever and the industry needs to focus on being nimble.”

Julian Persaud, Regional Director for APAC, Airbnb, Inc., commented, "The number of travellers looking for a local experience and staying in an Airbnb when they travel across Asia has grown by almost 400% in the last year alone. A growing number of these bookings are now made on mobile devices, a 60 times increase as compared to 2013, when the app was first introduced. Our success in the region would not be possible without a growing community of hosts in this part of the world who share their homes which has become a part of their lifestyle." 

ITB Asia attracts delegates from across all sectors of the travel industry and exhibitors including airlines, trailblazers and pioneers from leading MICE, corporate and leisure companies to network, identify new business opportunities and discuss the latest regional trends. 

Through 760 exhibitors from 73 countries reaching out to 860 buyers and 10,300 attendees, ITB Asia 2015 heralds the trends of travel trade innovation and product diversity.

Airbnb and Hotels.com are popular hotel and flight booking web-sites.

The various hotel and flight booking web-sites that exhibit at ITB Asia 2015 include TripAdvisor and Tuniu Corporation. 

TripAdvisor shows media and buyers how to use its web-site effectively to upload hotel room prices, destination and hotel profiles and reviews.

Tuniu Corporation entices buyers with its company profile, its Chinese-language based flight booking web-site tuniu.com and symbolic toy cows. Tuniu on the likes of other Chinese booking web-sites such as Ctrip and E-Long plans to open an English section on its booking web-site in the future to meet market demand.

The airlines either exhibit under the countries' tourism pavilions or on their own.

Vietnam Airlines has its own booth under the pavilion of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) for the first time showcasing its new fleet of B787-900 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 aircraft and its current month inflight magazines Heritage and Heritage Fashion. Postcards are not available.

Hai Au Aviation the charter flight operator on the pioneer Hanoi - Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh - Pan Thiet routes distributed limited flight promotion brochures, its company parent Thien Minh Group (TMG) profile and its travel magazine Buffalotours, inspired by its sister tour division company name of BuffaloTours.com at VNAT. The airline and other members of TMG also held a press conference at ITB Asia on 22 October on their travel products for this year and 2016.

Hai Au Aviation established in 2011 and launched flight operations in 2014 using Cessna Grand Caravan EX seaplanes says it may operate light aircraft charter flights from Hanoi to Luang Prabang and from Ho Chi Minh City to Sihanouville, among possible destinations in Laos and Cambodia in the future.

Other airlines that exhibit under tourism bodies' booths include Lao Airlines, Solomon Airlines, Fiji Airways,  Pacific Island Air and AirAsia.

Lao Airlines gave away its company history and route map brochures at the booth of Lao National Tourism Authority (LNTA) where the tourism authority markets Luang Prabang in full scale, Vientiane, Savannakhet and tourism destinations, nature, cuisine and cultures in southern Lao provinces of Salavan, Champasak, Sekong, Attapeu and Mekong Island. Savannakhet brochures ran out on the first day.

LNTA and Lao Airlines first exhibited in ITB Asia in 2013 to celebrate nearly an anniversary of flights from Vientiane to Singapore. Lao Airlines' inaugural commercial flight to Singapore from Vientiane begins on 24 November 2011 and now flies thrice a week to Luang Prabang via Vientiane from Singapore.

Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) that first exhibited in ITB Asia in 2014 distributed SIVB Solomon tourism booklets and limited hardcopies of Solomons magazine of Solomon Airlines to the attendees.

The airlines that exhibit in ITB Asia for the first time are Cebu Pacific Air, Air Astana and AirAsia.

Cebu Pacific distributed the remaining stock of its Smile magazine editions of August and September 2015 and its Davao-Singapore-Davao inaugural flight advertisement cards.

Air Astana, the national airline of Kazakhstan, exhibits through its Singapore GSA Worldwide Aviation Sales, by distributing the updated Air Astana Holidays booklets and hardcopies of its Southeast Asia flight Timetable for 2015.

Air Astana recently launched new commercial flights from Astana to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport with flight KC231 departing from Astana at 1.30 am, arriving in Suvarnabhumi at 9.50 am before leaving Suvarnabhumi at 11.30 am and touching down in Astana at 7 pm using its Boeing B767 aircraft on Mondays and Thursdays under KC232.

Air Astana also operates flights from Almaty to Suvarnabhumi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. It introduces the Economy Sleeper Class on flights from Astana to London, Frankfurt, Paris and between Almaty and Hong Kong for the price of an Air Astana Economy fare.

AirAsia is the official airline partner of Goa Tourism with regular flights from Goa to Kuala Lumpur. It distributed flight planning brochures to the visitors and media.

In all, the exact airline exhibitors of ITB Asia 2015 that really distribute their collateral include Vietnam Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air, Philippine Airlines, Bangkok Airways, AirAsia, Air Astana, Uzbekistan Airways, Air Berlin, Turkish Airlines, Finnair, Korean Air,  Aerodiana, Maverick Aviation Group, Grand Canyon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Airlines.

Uzbekistan Airways that has been planning to join the Sky Team alliance in 2016 showcases Uzbek foodstuffs, destinations and distributes the October 2015 edition of Uzbekistan Airways Inflight Magazine and its own aircraft magnet advertisement cards to the attendees.

Bangkok Airways distributed brief profiles, stickers and its Summer 2015 Timetable hardcopies that are not available in the Singapore branch office.

Philippine Airlines handed out flight schedules and limited B777-200 airline-issued model kits.

Aerodiana of Peru distributed its Nasca Lines route maps, company brochure cards and it is the anchor tenant of the newly-constructed Pisco International Airport in Peru.

Maverick Aviation Group, Grand Canyon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Airlines distributed their company travel magazines to the attendees.

The country with the biggest exhibitor presence in ITB Asia 2015 is Thailand where Pattaya Chonburi Province travel traders showcase the new face of Pattaya at a separate booth. Thai AirAsia commences flight to Pattaya from Singapore on 27 November 2015.

Singapore is second, followed by the United States, Indonesia, Peru, Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos. Mongolia is represented by Black Ibex Expeditions.

The country to exhibit at ITB Asia 2015 for the first time is Botswana. Botswana Tourism Board distributed hardcopies of its Discover Botswana magazine.

The ITB Asia booth took the opportunity to declare ITB Berlin marks 50th Anniversary of travel show expertise in 2016. The Maldives will be the Official Partner Country of ITB Berlin 2016. In partnership with ITB Berlin, Maldives Tourism & PR Corporation will launch and market to the world "365 Days of Free Holidays in Maldives", "100 Islands in 30 Days", "Mega Wedding" packages, market Free Diving Competition and Photo Competition, to mark Visit Maldives 2016.

ITB Asia 2015 ends on 23 October with a promise to include new features such as a Destination Showcase next year where destinations can highlight their unique offerings to the attendees. Finland is the Official Partner Country of ITB Asia 2016.

The ninth edition of ITB Asia takes place at Sands Expo & Convention Centre from 19 to 21 October 2016 while the tenth edition of the international travel market will be from 25 to 27 October 2017.

Myanmar National Airlines flies to Hong Kong on 4 December 2015

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                   / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Myanmar National Airlines is commencing a direct scheduled flight from Yangon to Hong Kong on 4 December 2015. It will operate on the new route every Friday, Sunday, Monday and Wednesday, with Friday timings different from the other three days of flight services.

On 4 December 2015 (Friday), Myanmar National Airlines flight UB003 departs from Yangon to Hong Kong at 7.55 am, arrives in Hong Kong at 12.25 pm before leaving Hong Kong at 1.55 pm and touching down in Yangon at 3.35 pm under flight UB004.

On Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, flight UB003 takes off for Hong Kong at 9 am instead, arrives in Hong Kong at 1.30 pm before UB004 departs for Yangon at 2.50 pm and arrives in Yangon at 4.30 pm.

The Hong Kong return flights are operated by the airline's Boeing B737-800 NG registered XY-ALC, its second B738 aircraft, which has been deployed on domestic routes since 20 October 2015 from Yangon to Naypyitaw, Mandalay and Nyaung U.

Myanmar National Airlines' all-in introductory fare to Hong Kong starts from 398 US Dollars according to its Facebook.

Myanmar National Airlines participated in ITB Asia 2015 in Singapore from 21 to 23 October through extremely limited distribution of its Myanmar magazine at one of the country's UMTA-accreditated travel agents under the Myanmar Pavilion booth. 

UMTA is short for Union of Myanmar Travel Association, which was formed under the supervision of the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism in year 2002 as the principal association of private sector travel agencies, tour operators, airlines and travel related businesses with the objective to market and promote Myanmar as a premier travel destination.

The buzz around Vietnam Airlines' B787-900 and A350-900 aircraft

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Vietnam Airlines has recently created a buzz in the international civil aviation industry as the first Asian airline to operate both Boeing B787-900 Dreamliner and Airbus A350-900 aircraft types in July 2015. It first introduced the aircraft to the attendees of ITE & MICE 2015 in Hong Kong in June 2015, followed by the Vietnam edition of ITE in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2015 and from 21 to 23 October 2015 at ITB Asia 2015 in Singapore.

According to Vietnam Airlines, a five-year contract for B787-900 pilot training at the Boeing Training Centre in Singapore was signed by the airline and Boeing Flight Services Co., a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services Co. of the Boeing Goup in preparation for operating the aircraft. This year, a total of estimated 90 pilots of Vietnam Airlines are expected to complete the training course and to be able to fly one of the most advanced jets in the world.

Throughout Vietnam Airlines' recent history, cooperation with Boeing has enabled the airline to extend its fleet and enhance its operational efficiency.

By 2019, Vietnam Airlines plans to totally renew its fleet to include 19 B787-900 aircraft and 14 A350-900 aircraft including purchased and leased jets. This means that in the future, passengers at Changi Airport and other Asian airports outside Vietnam can anticipate to fly with both aircraft types to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and beyond. The Airbus A321 and A330 aircraft of Vietnam Airlines may be retired.

Common functions of a B787-900 and an Airbus A350-900 of Vietnam Airlines include endless entertainment options on full HD screens and useful destination information, inflight bars for passenger convenience and enjoyment, features full-flat seats that recline 180 degrees into comfortable beds with WIFI, power outlets and USB ports. Windows are larger than Airbus A330 and offer better views and dimmable window controls while overhead bins are larger than other aircraft types. They lower cabin pressure to achieve optimal humidity. There is the common light system that can be adjusted to suit one's body clock.

The differences between B787-900 and A350-900 lie in the following seat arrangements and configurations.

In an A350-900 aircraft, seats are arranged in a diagonal or herringbone configuration affording every passenger the utmost in privacy whereas in a Dreamliner aircraft seats are arranged in a herringbone configuration only. There are 36 to 45 Premium Economy Class seats in a Vietnam Airlines' A350-900 aircraft whereas its Dreamliner aircraft has only 35 Premium Economy Class that offers exciting HD widescreen smart entertainment.

Business Class seats are arranged in four spacious rows onboard both aircraft. The roomier arrangement enables passengers to relax, enjoy inflight entertainment on offer comfortably and alleviate the effects of jet-lag on long-haul flights. Passengers have access to chargers, USB gates, WIFI connections, Internet access from personal devices, a new generation of entertainment systems featuring large 16-inch LCD screens.

As in all other types of aircraft operated by Vietnam Airlines, delicious varieties of Vietnamese and world cuisine are served.

Vietnam Airlines flies from Singapore via Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Incheon, Busan and other long-haul destinations in northern Asia, Europe and Moscow, Russia regularly.

SilkAir's maiden flight to Male on 26 October 2015 indicates boom in the Maldives travel industry

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Tourist arrivals to the Maldives are still increasing. With the higher demand for travels to the Maldives, SilkAir is beginning scheduled flights to Male, the capital of the Maldives on 26 October 2015, and not 25 October. 

On 26 October 2015 (Monday), SilkAir flight MI482 departs from Singapore for Male at 10.05 am, arrives in Male at 11.40 am local time before leaving Male at 1.35 pm and touching down in Singapore at 9.25 pm under flight MI481. Flights on Mondays are operated using its Boeing B737-800 aircraft.

On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, flight MI481 using Airbus A320 aircraft departs from Male at 12.55 pm and arrives in Singapore at 8.45 pm. The outbound departure timing of MI482 using A320 remains the same as the B737-800's Sunday flights of SilkAir.

With its parent company Singapore Airlines and its low-fare subsidiary Tigerair offering up to 20 flights a week between both countries, SilkAir and its sister airlines will offer more than two return trips a day, making the Maldives even more accessible to holidaymakers from Southeast Asia and beyond.

With Male, SilkAir flies to 49 destinations in 13 countries.

Meanwhile, Maldives proudly declares the country is the Official Partner Country of ITB Berlin 2016 at ITB Asia 2015 as it marks 2016 as the year to visit the country with a year of wonderful leisure activities for tourists. At ITB Asia 2015 from 21 to 23 October, Maldives is marketing the various private resorts to business buyers. Information on Maldives tourism and cultures is easily accessible at visitmaldives.com.
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Finnair to fly to Singapore using Airbus A350 XWB in May 2016

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

Two positive events in Finland travel trade and ITB Asia history will stimulate air traffic growth between Helsinki and Singapore in 2016.

Firstly, Finnair plans to fly to Singapore from Helsinki using its Airbus A350-900 series or A350 XWB aircraft in May 2016. Secondly, Visit Finland signed a Memorandum of Understanding with ITB Asia in Singapore on 21 October 2015 to launch StopOver Finland project on a global scale in ITB Asia 2016 on 19 October.

Anssi Partanen, Finnair's Head of Travel Products for Product Development and Ancillary Business Department, told Sayacinta - Airpost after Visit Finland and Finnair's joint press conference yesterday that Finnair's decision to deploy the A350 XWB on the Singapore route is attributed to the healthy growth in passenger numbers since the airline started flying directly between Helsinki and Singapore on 30 May 2011 using its Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

Finnair plans to fly the A350 XWB to Singapore in May 2016, subject to delays in arrival of the new aircraft. Finnair is the first European airline to operate the 46-Business Class, 208-Economy Class and 43 Economy Comfort seater A350 XWB, with its first Asian service to Shanghai on 21 November 2015.

The A350 XWB's fuselage is 33 cm wider than an A340 aircraft. The aircraft is quieter both in and outside compared to the previous generation of aircraft and others 20 per cent less emission of fuel. It has bigger windows, newly designed overhead storage bins, less curved sidewalls and LED mood lighting which offer truly new and exciting travel experiences.

Other airlines operating the A350 XWB by May 2016 include Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways.

According to Jari Ahjoharju, Director for Media and Public Relations of Visit Finland, there has been a twenty per cent increase in Finnair air traffic passenger numbers from Singapore over the last one year. No exact figures are available.

According to Heli Mende, Program Director of StopOver Finland the initiative by Visit Finland, the new StopOver Finland landmark agreement wants to invite new travel trade partners to consider selling Finland as a stopover destination to their clients traveling from Asia to Europe. Finn partners for ITB Asia co-operation in 2016 include Finnair, Helsinki Airport, Restel Hotel Group, Scandic Hotels, Sokos Hotels, TallinkSilja, Viking Line, Visit Helsinki, Visit Rovaniemi and Visit Turku.

The final StopOver Finland product menu will be first officially launched in China in spring 2016, followed by Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea shortly that will include 50 accessible travel packages and accommodation activity packages for stay from 5 hours to 5 days in different parts of Finland. Travellers stopping over in Helsinki can experience Finn highlights from Northern Lights to Midnight Sun, relaxing moments in the pure Finn forests, lakes, archipelago and sauna as well as shopping Finn design items and meeting familiar Finn characters such as Moomins and Santa Claus.

A 24-hour Summer StopOver Experience in Helsinki includes hiking in Nuuksio National Park and enjoying a Finn sauna while a longer 30-day Summer StopOver Experience includes Helsinki city tour, flight to Rovaniemi, Lapland to see Santa Claus and experiencing a husky safari.

Helsinki Airport aims to be the leading airport in the northern European hemisphere connecting Europe and Asia. Its vision for 2020 under its Vision 20 includes a Euro 900 million investment programme that will further develop passenger services including reducing minimal connecting time to 40 minutes and easing access to the airport by all modes of transport. The airport is the most important hub of Finnair's flight operations.

Finnair as the sixth oldest airline founded in 1923 flies to 17 Asian destinations including Singapore, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Shanghai, Chongqing, Beijing and Xi'an, 80 European destinations as well as Toronto, New York, Miami and Chicago in North America. It started flying to Asia from Helsinki in the 1980s.

Visit Finnair at Booth E / N05 of ITB Asia 2015, 21-23 October, visitfinland.com for more information on Finland travel and www.finnair.com for further Finnair news or book your flights. 

Fiji Airways to fly direct to Singapore from Nadi by April 2016

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
                  / KUCINTA SETIA
Distributed to All Press & Travel Professionals

The Fijian Government Delegation led by the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Hon. Faiyaz Koya, the Minister for Agriculture, Hon. Inia Seruiratu and the Permanent Secetary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, Mr Shaheen Ali held an official press conference at ITB Asia 2015 in Singapore on 22 October, announcing Fiji Airways' plan for a new direct scheduled route to Singapore from Nadi, the gateway to the 333-island nation of Fiji in the southwest Pacific region.

According to the government officials, Fiji Airways plans to launch a direct scheduled flight to Singapore from Nadi in the first quarter and by the first week of April 2016 before the World Rugby Sevens Series commences in Singapore on 16 April 2016.

Fiji Airways will utilize its newly-acquired Airbus A330-300 aircraft on the highly-anticipated Nadi-Singapore-Nadi service after taking delivery of the aircraft in December 2015. 

Fiji Airways has plans to fly to Beijing and Shanghai, in particular Beijing but if it could not fly direct to Beijing in 2016 from Nadi, a Singapore link will be viable subject to approval of the two countries' civil aviation authorities. To this end, Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya said, " the airline is working hard to finalise the required Government, industry and airline partnerships which would be crucial for the success of the new route".

Fiji Airways will release further details on the flight commencement date and frequency in November 2015 once the necessary Government regulatory and partnership agreements are confirmed. The relevant civil aviation authorities are in the stage of processing the new Air Services Agreement (ASA) between Fiji and Singapore.

Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya added, "The possibility of flying direct to Singapore provides an opportunity for the strengthening of bilateral trade and economic relations between Fiji and Singapore. Singapore is an ideal route for us given the convenient connectivity needed with the Indian, South Asian, Middle-Eastern and European markets. These emerging markets combined with other long-haul destinations of USA and Canada makes up 27 per cent of the total visitor arrivals".

In 2015, 714000 passengers arrived in Nadi, Fiji by air and Tourism Fiji wants to encourage a further increase in tourist arrivals from Asia.

Tourism Fiji said the planned direct flight to Nadi from Singapore will encourage more Singaporeans, divers, honeymooners and families to consider vacationing in Fiji without transits in Hong Kong, Port Moresby, Brisbane, Sydney or Auckland.

The new Singapore route will also complement Fiji Airways' direct service to Hong Kong which will see the latter route frequency increase to four return flights per week from 25 October 2015. The airline expects to increase the Hong Kong flight frequency further to five return flights per week in 2016.

There are also possible plans for Fiji Airways to fly to India, Kuala Lumpur, Suvarnabhumi, Jakarta and Manila from Singapore through possible code-sharing arrangements with airlines like Singapore Airlines, Garuda Indonesia and Philippine Airlines.

Hon. Inia Seruiratu said the launch of direct flights between Nadi and Singapore, both regional aviation hubs in their respective continents, aim to attract more trade and business traffic from Europe and Asia  to Fiji, booster trade and economic ties with Singapore and Asia as a whole, and facilitate Fijian travels to Singapore without stopovers in Australia or Hong Kong.

The burgeoning market of the Fijian economy which sees a record growth of 5.3 percent in 2014 has attracted significant investments from Singaporean enterprises. Fiji's bilateral trade with Singapore in 2014 was approximately 1.6 billion Fijian Dollars. This makes Singapore the largest import source market of Fiji whereas Fiji imports fuel from Singapore predominantly.

With commencement of eight-hour direct flights between Singapore and Fiji in 2016 and closer air links, it is expected that bilateral trade will not only improve significantly with more Fijian exports to Singapore and more inbound tourists to Fiji from Singapore, Southeast Asia and beyond and Fiji will become a more favourable destination for Singaporean investors.

Over the past ten years, approximately 19 Singaporean investment projects have been registered in Fiji, with investment value at around 255 million Fijian Dollars.

Visit Tourism Fiji at Booth E / K10, ITB Asia 2015, from 21 to 23 October to get first-hand information about Pacific Island Air, one of Fiji's domestic private airlines and sea-plane operator and  Fiji Airways' current routes.