Civil unrest in the Pacific has thrown airline schedules and traffic in the region into chaos, following the Fijian coup and disturbances in the Solomon Islands.
Fijian flag carrier Air Pacific has suspended all flights to Brisbane, reduced flights to Melbourne, and downsized Sydney services from a Boeing 747-300 to a 737-800. Qantas codeshares on Air Pacific flights to Nadi and Suva.
Air New Zealand, which operates 14 flights per week into or via Fiji, has overflown the island three times since the arrest of former coup leader George Speight, although it has not suspended any flights on a repeat basis. The carrier says demand has slumped since the disturbances, and decisions on whether to fly are now made daily.
Solomon Airlines, which was flying three Brisbane services and one to Melbourne, has not flown any international services since the coup on 3 June.
Source: Flight International
