Government intervention called for in Fiji and Solomon airlines’ dispute

The Association of South Pacific Airlines has said that a dispute between the national airlines of Solomon Islands and Fiji can only be resolved through the intervention of the prime ministers of both countries. The dispute flared earlier this month when the Solomon Islands Civil Aviation Authority refused a request from Fiji Airways for extra flights to Honiara. All flights between the two countries have since been suspended. Fiji has since prevented Papua New Guinea’s national airline Air Niugini from picking up Solomon Airlines passengers at Nadi airport under a code-sharing deal. Fiji’s Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told local media: