Fiji's domestic airline, Pacific Sun is changing its schedule services to Mana and Malolo-lailai in the Mamanuca Islands with charter flights beginning of next month.

This is an effort to eliminate two loss making routes and ensure the business is able to continue servicing key tourism markets that do not have ferry services.

Pacific Sun general manager Jim Samson said since its first flight in 2007, Pacific Sun has supported a number of routes that have not been able to cover operating costs.

Samson stressed that poor economic performance for the last three
years has given them no alternative but to cease scheduled services into these resort islands.

Samson said they have advised property owners on both Mana and Malolo-lailai in May that they would be unable to support continued service without resort assistance and they have requested chartered rates.

He added these changes will not mean job losses as Pacific Sun employees in the Mamanucas will be redeployed to the airlines headquarters at Nadi International airport.

He added Pacific Sun will be able to prioritise its flying on other key tourism destination including Kadavu, Levuka, Savusavu, Taveuni, Vanuabalavu and Lakeba.

According to Samson, visitors to these islands have numerous options for transiting to the Mamanuca's thus Pacific Sun will focus on its operations on more distant points that link thousands of international tourists each year.