Qantas irks partner Fiji Airways with ‘aggressive’ move
Fiji Airways has taken aim at Qantas, and now views the two long time partners as fierce commercial competitors.
Qantas is a major shareholder and established partner of Fiji Airways but this year announced it would start its own services to Fiji in direct competition.
Fiji Airways officials have raised their concerns with Qantas about the move but without success, according to the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation.
Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljeon says Qantas’ aggressive move puts their commercial partnership in doubt.
"It is certainly alarming when your major shareholder and long-standing commercial partner all of a sudden becomes your major competitor," Viljoen said.
"This partnership has been a win-win for both parties, so you can imagine our surprise when Qantas announced, in January this year, that it would be commencing its own services to Fiji in competition with Fiji Airways."
Viljoen also says it’s not a very smart move by Qantas as it may struggle to make it profitable as the Australia market to Fiji is declining.
According to Qantas more than 365,000 Australians travel to Fiji each year.
The issue was also raised by Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama with Australian counterpart Scott Morrison.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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