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Soaking up the South Pacific sun on a coral-fringed island, dropping anchor at a palm-edged beach, scuba diving, surfing reef breaks or dallying through tropical rainforests have all become directly accessible from Hong Kong as Air Pacific announced today (December 7) the launch of its new non-stop flights between Fiji and Hong Kong.
Fijian Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama officiated at the ceremony which was held at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) to herald the new route. He was accompanied by several key Fijian dignitaries including Air Pacific Board Chairman Mr Nalin Patel, and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air Pacific, Mr John Campbell.
Air Pacific now operates flights to 18 destinations and through its codeshare partnership with Cathay Pacific, its network covers Southeast Asia, the UK and continental Europe. The airline aims to transit passengers through the Hong Kong hub to Nadi, the principal port of entry for air travellers to Fiji. The majority of these travellers are expected to be holidaymakers heading to Fiji to enjoy the attractions of this diverse tourist destination.
Speaking at the official inauguration at the HKIA, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Air Pacific, Mr John Campbell, said, "We are looking forward to providing more choices for customers flying between Hong Kong and Fiji with our new service. Air Pacific is committed to attracting visitors from Fiji to Hong Kong and connecting them to the rest of the world.
"Our investment in the city represents our confidence in Hong Kong's strengthening position as a premium international aviation hub but also as the major international passenger and air cargo hub serving the Pearl River Delta. Our Hong Kong office will primarily focus on marketing and sales that will include developing and managing partnerships in Hong Kong, Mainland China and South Asia region, in particular India," he said.
"In joint marketing campaigns with Tourism Fiji and related partners, the Air Pacific Hong Kong operational team will identify and secure key segments. With support from the corporate operation in Fiji, the Hong Kong operation will play an active role in capturing opportunities using Hong Kong as the ideal strategic location for expanding and capturing the growing opportunities in the region. The choice of Hong Kong is a tribute to its dynamism and its well-earned position as Asia's World City," he said.
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion at Invest Hong Kong, Mr Charles Ng, is pleased to see the successful launch of Air Pacific's new flight service. "Air Pacific has launched non-stop flights to Hong Kong at a time when the demands of the international aviation sector are growing and we too must grow to meet these demands," he said.
"Hong Kong International Airport is an airport that has consistently been ranked amongst the best in the world. With the strategic position, Hong Kong has long been regarded as a natural gateway to China, with unrivalled access to markets on the Mainland and increasingly seen as a springboard for investors from overseas enterprises wishing to expand globally. The city is ideal for an airline like Air Pacific that is targeting overseas markets using here as a transit hub. Invest Hong Kong looks forward to providing continued support to Air Pacific for its continued development and expansion in its new venture," Mr Ng added.
About Air Pacific
Air Pacific is one of the subsidiaries of Air Pacific group and has been serving the South Pacific for almost 60 years. The company operates flights to 18 destinations, making it one of the leaders in Fiji's tourism industry in addition to the largest carrier of visitors to Fiji. For more information, please visit www.airpacific.com.
About Invest Hong Kong
Invest Hong Kong is the department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government responsible for Foreign Direct Investment, supporting overseas, Mainland and Taiwanese businesses to set up and expand in Hong Kong. We provide free advice and customised services to help your business succeed in our vibrant economy. For more information, please visit www.investhk.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, December 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 12:36
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