New lockdown downs Fiji Airways and Fiji Link flights

Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) and Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) have cancelled some domestic services as well international repatriation flights in line with a 14-day COVID-19 lockdown in the country. Containment measures were escalated following the first case of community transmission in the capital Suva. Fijian authorities have shut down businesses that require public interaction and have stopped most travel in and out of the country while efforts are made to trace 500 people who were exposed to the virus at a funeral. The airline, in a statement, advised that flights to Auckland Int’l from April 26 to April 29, as well as Sydney Kingsford Smith on April 26 had been cancelled. However, the Nadi-Auckland (FJ 1411) and Auckland-Nadi (FJ 1410) repatriation flights on April 22 would operate as scheduled. All other international repatriation flights into and from Fiji between April 23 to 26 were cancelled, including returns flights between Nadi and Brisbane Int’l, Los Angeles Int’l, and Apia Faleolo (Samoa). The only exceptions for inbound travel were for medical reasons by prior arrangement and approval from the Fijian Ministry of Health on a limited number of flights. Selected Fiji Link domestic services would operate between April 23 and April 28 between Suva and Taveuni, Savusavu, and Labasa. However, all domestic flights out of Nadi remained cancelled. This followed an earlier announcement that all Fiji Link domestic flights departing from Suva had been cancelled from April 22, although all flights into Suva from Vanua Levu and outer islands on April 22 would operate as planned, but delays were expected. The airlines said all domestic and international schedules would be reviewed in line with any changes announced by the Fijian authorities. Unflown revenue would be held in credit for future travel until December 31, 2021.