As we report on the huge losses of Air Pacific this hour, we can also confirm that the airline war is expected to heat up in the next few months in Fiji.

It has been confirmed that International Air Services Commission has granted Jetstar and V Australia capacity on the Fiji route.

Tourism Fiji Chairman, Patrick Wong has welcomed the open sky policy by government and said it will bring long term benefits for Fiji.

According to the Travel Weekly website, Qantas group has been awarded 852 seats of capacity per week which must be used no later than April next year while V Australia has been awarded 907 seats capacity per week, but the carrier must launch services by December 31st this year.

Wong said low cost carriers have greater flexibility when it comes to operational costs, pricing, planning with the encouragement of airline carriers venturing, flying out of non mainstream ports as well as opening up better connectivity and additional new regions for Fiji.