Over the months of April and May passengers carried and bookings held were up to 20% less than for the same months last year.

Those were the words of Air Pacific Managing Director and CEO, John Campbell who said this has been a trend throughout the first six months of this year.

However, Campbell said they are seeing some positive reservations activity from late June which extends through to September this year.

Campbell said this indicates that bookings are returning to a more normal pattern and more or less in line with intakes of 2008 albeit being built on a lower base of bookings held.

He added as a consequence, they anticipate that visitor arrivals and passengers carried in the June to September period will be less than in 2008 but with an improving trend.