Fiji's International Airline, Air Pacific said it is ready to start international flights to and from Nausori Airport.

However, CEO John Campbell said services will only resume once the airport rectification has been undertaken and Airports Fiji Limited approach CAAFI for Nausori Airport to again be licensed for scheduled jet services.

Campbell said Air Pacific terminated flights to and from Nausori in June 2007 as they operated two weekly flights to Sydney and two weekly flights to Auckland from Nausori.

Campbell clarifies that services were stopped as a consequence of the overall downturn in travel but more particularly because the airport infrastructure had declined to the point that operations could not be guaranteed the level of safety required by Air Pacific.

According to Campbell subsequent to Air Pacific withdrawing services, CAAFI reviewed Nausori Airport and decided to remove its license to accept scheduled international jet flights until a number of corrective actions were taken.

He said AFL were advised of corrective actions which involved rectification of runway, lighting, approach lighting, coverage of drainage channels and cleansing of algae from the runway surface to reduce the potential of aircraft skidding on a slippery surface. Campbell stresses none of these improvements represent major capital cost.

Campbell said it is their understanding the rectification work has been undertaken but the necessary approach by AFL to CAAFI for renewal of the airport license has not been initiated.