An obscure woman from Lau is set for global recognition at the centerpiece of Air Pacific’s new design for the re-launch of the airline as Fiji Airways next year. Makereta Matemosi is an artisan with a strong reputation in i’Taukei circles for her innovative masi or tapa cloth designs. Yet her fame is about to spread far beyond Fiji from having been chosen to design the national airline’s new branding. Makareta’s logo is set to be seen at airports throughout the Asia Pacific region emblazoned on the new Fiji Airways state-of-the-art Airbus A330s.
A video clip released by the airline tells her inspirational story – truly a national treasure keeping alive one of the most important of i’Taukei traditions. For anyone who doubts the value of Air Pacific’s decision to re-connect with its Fijian roots, this remarkable lady’s story should lay those doubts to rest. It was a bold decision by the airline to eschew the traditional advertising route of glamorous flight attendants to promote itself. Makarata’s story has an authenticity and credibility that is truly inspiring. These are the real heroes of Fiji, ordinary people with special talents that make the whole nation feel proud. And the country could not have a better ambassador than this wonderful, down-to-earth woman with a special creative gift.
Makareta has been practicing the art of masi making for 32 years. She worked closely with Air Pacific personnel to design something that doesn’t just have visual impact but tells a story. It’s the story of where the airline sees itself not only as Fiji’s home-grown transport link to destinations throughout the region but as the flag carrier of the Fijian nation and its values.
At the centre is a distinctive Teteva motif, which Makareta says represents spirituality, consideration for others, Fijian hospitality, and the connection that Fiji Airways will offer the rest of the world. “What I’ve created is something entirely different, and has never been seen in any of the Masi designs in Fiji,” Makareta explained. “I hope this Masi symbol means a lot to our nation, our people, and our visitors, because we are proud of our country and proud of the new ‘Fiji Airways”.
Air Pacific’s CEO, Dave Flieger, said the announcement of the new logo was the culmination of more than a year’s work “While the new name had a lot of history associated with it, we decided that we wanted a new and distinctly Fijian symbol and brand that would help us best represent the country while also ensuring our planes stand out at some of the world’s busiest international airports. In short, we wanted a flying billboard for Fiji and its stunning 333 islands in the South Pacific”, he said.
The new design was described as “wonderful” by Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama when he officially unveiled it at a ceremony on Denarau. He said the new logo would transform Fiji Airways’ planes into welcoming symbols of Fijian culture. “What better could symbolise the unique blend of the past and the future, what better could symbolise the unique blend of our cultures and traditions, and what better could symbolise our commonality?”, the Prime Minister said.
The airline’s new fleet of three A330s begin arriving in Fiji next March sporting the airline’s new motif and colour scheme, which will be fully revealed on October 10th in conjunction with Fiji Day. The complete re-branding is due to be finalised by the end of 2013, with the new logo on ticket offices, check-in counters, airport lounge facilities and the airline’s official website.
The new planes, of course, will be the most obvious stars of Fiji Airways at airports from Los Angeles to Hong Kong to Sydney. But it will be a matter of intense pride for the whole country that the spirit of the new airline has been captured by an ordinary Fijian woman with a most extraordinary talent. Vinaka vakalevu Makareta! Sa totoka sara ga na nomu cakacaka. (Thank you Makareta! Beautiful work.)
POSTSCRIPT 21/8: As we predicted, Makareta has gone global with this article in the British style bible, Design Week.
Thanks a million Makareta,
I like the brown background as in the masi that she holds…that’s just me.
Thanks once again
What a totally fitting way to re-launch my old employer, Fiji Airways. And what a great artist Makareta is! I started in the CML office in March 1971, fresh out of school. We were Fiji Airways then. Within 6 months, we had changed our name initially to Paciific Islands Airways Ltd, while we waited for the existing Air Pacific company (eventually they became Fiji Air Services) to give up its name by legal process. Then we were finally re-named Air Pacific. I was there for 3 years until I emigrated to Australia, but I will never forget those wonderful, formative years as a wide-eyed teenager, then young man. Names like Bill Narruhn, Lori Morris, Matty Samuels, Bernard Lal, Kit Naidu, Raj Naidu (I replaced Raj as stataion manager Savusavu at the ripe old age of 20), Bob Kennedy, Annie Yandall, Joy Prasad, Ram Kissun, Aziz Mohammed, Uraia Naicori, JK Prasad, Arthur Whippy, Andrew and Ernie Dutta, Eloni Qiolevu – I could go on forever! And Emmett Peckham – loveable ratbag! Thank you FJ, for the memories. May you adorn our Pacific skies forever!
Brother…dont forget too the likes of Archie Valentine (RIP). Rod Samuels, Glen Ah Sam, Eparama Turaga aka ‘Tarzan’, Bert Sanday, George Fakataufon, George Dyer etc. A great team!
@ Tony M
If no one has said this to you, vinaka bro for all that you have done for Fiji….in athletics representing Fiji and in all other things.
Needless to say, your old man (RIP) served with my old man in Fiji Military during WW2. My old man never rose to great heights in life but as an ex soldier he always respected the Hon TM.
Vinaka bro
Tony thank you for recalling the memories. You, Victor Sharan and myself all started on that same day in March 1971. Though you and I left many many years ago, Victor Sharan finally retired just last week and I was talking on the phone with him and jokingly recalling alot of the past memories. He was telling me how Emmet Peckham a real rogue back then had got him into trouble for answering a phone call and telling off the caller a kai valagi who wanted to know if they served breakfast on the first flight from Suva to Nadi. This was in the CML building and Victor had gone upstairs to use the men’s toilets. The phone rang and Emmet answered. The caller wanted to know about breakfast, typical Emmet baci told him off and to wake up his wife early and get her to make his breakfast before the flight. I laughed like hell because that was the kind of person Emmet was. Undoubtledly Bill Narruhn as the boss was not happy
Thanks Fiji government and vinaka vakalevu Makereta.
Great posting and an heartwarming story. Phleiger and his team must be congratulated on a masterful selection of branding that captures Fiji’s spirit.
Now he needs to translate that into a cultural revolution in his organisation. It will take more than just changing the livery to do this. Warmth, caring, love for Fiji and all of the other characteristics that the new brand is supposed to espouse have to start at the top….and he and his executive team need to ensure that the rank and file of the organisation “buy into” it.
It is no secret to those who use the services of Air Pacific/Fiji airways that service standards are at an all time low. The inflight service leaves much to be desired when compared with other regional carriers like Air New Zealand.
When you speak with friends who have or currently work for the airline, you hear alarming tales of loss skilled manpower in the ranks of the airlines pilots and highly trained engineers to greener pastures in PNG, and the Middle east (Gulf Air, Emirates and others). All of the people speak of their frustration at an executive suite that just doesn’t care, compelling them to leave. The common thread to their frustration is that they love their airline but were treated poorly, and so they left for better opportunity.
And once they leave they very rarely come back…and who can blame them for going to another airline that treats them in the “transactional” way that Air Pacific did; but at least they were better paid for it!
If Phlieger doesnt get buy in form his troops, then this rebranding will be the corporate equivalent of “slapping lipstick on a sow”, and as Kerry Packer famously put it ” an intellectual wank”.
As a proud kai viti, I hope he succeeds, because Makareta has really done us proud in coming up with such a beautiful logo.
The logo does look good. Sadly Air Pacific service is simply pathetic and no amount of logo changing can fix that. I was on a long 10 hr flight to LA recently. Because the LA flight is in the night i worked through the day and had very little to eat leading up to the flight thinking i would get a decent meal on board which is something we have been used to on Air Pacific and some shut eye. What i got was a cold silver side sandwich and a packet of FMF chips.The bun looked like it was made by the Chinese bakery in Vatualevu and their was 1 slice of meat in the sandwich. The FMG chips well what can you say about that. I refused to eat what i would term as dog “food” and stayed hungry till breakfast which was not so bad. But seriously a 10 hr flight and a $2400 ticket deserves a better meal. Other thing’s i noticed was the lack of a simple smile on the staffs faces. The bar was practically shut down after the dinner was served and the staff had the most demoralized attitude i have ever seen. I felt that the staff were eager to get everyone fed and call it a days as soon as possible. That was not the Air Pacific i flew on before. It seems that financial success has been brought about by serious cut backs for the customer. I travel to LA at least 5 times a year and to Australia and NZ about 10 times each year. I fly Virgin Air into Brisbane or Sydney and then go to LA to avoid Air Pacific even though it costs me more and takes longer. I simply refuse to fly Air Pacific simply because they do not value my dollar. My satisfaction as a customer has been sacrificed because no body gave a shit for many many years and all of a sudden they need to make money so guess what screw the paying customer. Well not me mate.
Ali
Can you direct your complain to the airline. We are talking about the new design here and nobody gives a rats ass how much you pay as you are not the only passenger.
Complain to the Airline? You think they gave rats ass to complaints from a MR ALI?
YES AIR PACIFIC WILL GIVE THEIR OWN ASS IF THE COMPLAINT WAS FROM A JOHN SMITH!
Yes, the food…..the roti parcell being sold by Munna at his 2 x 2 feet roadside cart at the backstreets of Nadi town is much better…parcelled in News Paper…you can read while you eat….sack those guys with the funny white hats and get the Munnas to do the cooking…..let them serve the sandwich to the Qantas booked pasangers……..
In fact I found the AirPAcific staff to be the best on my frequent travels to Fiji….and I’ve travelled on quite a few of the other airlines….Qantas,Air NZ, Delta,American Airlines, Air Canada, Indian Airlines, Singapore airlines< Malayasian Airlines,Virgin, Jetstar,Alaskan and I can tell you which airlines to avoid…..nobody beats Airpacific….
Food…well like I said, let Munna cook.
I agree with you on this, Chand. Bhuja, Roti parcels, Fiji Water and Fiji Beer. That should be the food in economy and everyone would love it. The big guys can have seconds. 🙂
Here is my experience with Air Pacific.
A regular business traveller between Brisbane- Nadi and no option but to travel Air Pacific. No one else flew the route at the time. Being a vegetarian, out of approx 50 trips, i was given a meal about 3 times!!
Clearly they were NOT bothered! It was always MY FAULT! “you should have asked for vege meal at time of booking”- WHEN I SHOWED THEM THE BOOKING- they would simply walk away!
On one trip from Brisbane to Nadi, i wanted to catch up with some news story and asked the hostess for a FIJI TIMES. No paper for me so after 20 mins i asked another hostess. Still no paper 20 mins later. I looked across the isle and notice the gentleman sitting on the same row was no tourist but the European was our very own businessman MR JOHN FALVEY!
I told John that i requested a newspaper but for obvious reason it was not coming. John immediately asked a hostess for a FIji Times .Lo and behold- within 10 seconds Mr Falvey was given not only Fiji Times but also FIJI SUN!
In my last travel on Air Pacific ( using Qantas Frequent flyer points and QF ticket )last November, just for the sake of it i asked a hostess for a local newspaper- SHE JUST DID NOT COME BACK! Even if Mr Falvey was around, i would not have asked him this time around.!
I wonder and JUST WONDER-and this is NOT rocket science- WHAT if the Europeans were the Vegetarians, would the staff done something different? AND WOULD AIR PACIFIC had made sure to have a few extra vege meals for those who forget to order?
Hows that compared to my flight form Brisbane to SINGAPORE on Singapore Airlines.
Approx 90 minutes into flight, a senior steward comes up to me and says ” Mr Raniga we are trying to locate your vegetarian meal, in the meanwhile please have these fruit plate”. By the time all passengers were served lunch, another hostess came up with a plate and said “we have made a special vegetarian meal for you , hope you like it”.
Then half way into the meal, once again the senior steward turns up and says ” Mr Raniga, we have located your meal! He took away the empty fruit plate and showed me the pre ordered meal which was Indian veg curry with rice!- Thank you i will have that also!”
It reached a point when passengers sitting around me were asking was i someone well known or special.
HOW CAN ONE COMPARE AIRPACIFIC TO SINGAPORE AIRLINES!
On Air Pacific again,In Brisbane, i checked in and had one kilo excess! Airpacific Manager, Mr Alfred Shankar , knowing that that i was a frequent traveller made sure that i pay for the one kilo!. Every ex local in Brisbane i talked always had some issue with Air Pacific and Mr Shankar.
Next time i made sure that weight was below the required limit. Mr Shankar pulled me just before going into passport section and demanded he weigh my hand luggage!
I was up by half kilo and no way MR SHANKAR was letting in my hand luggage !
A heated argument with him followed how others (tourists) seem to have larger hand luggage and challenged him to weigh them. His reply-there was no need as whites knew how much they can carry!! To top all this, once inside the aircraft, the cabin crew make up clearly spells out – U R NOT WELCOME! Air Pacific MUST BE THE ONLY AIRLINE IN THE WORLD WHOSE CABIN CREW DOES NOT REFLECT ITS COUNTRY,S POPULATION MAKE UP!
A New FIJI AIRWAYS?- NO THANK YOU- SAME HORSE, SAME JOCKEY, different uniform. NOT FOR ME OR MY FAMILY.
Every airline looks out for regular travellers with points/ upgrades etc so one sticks to them. Not these idiots1 They rather upgrade and fall over backwards to a tourist who will go to Bali or eylsewhere next time.They dont have basic business sense>
Me smells a rat on a vegetarian plate….and would advise a oneway ticket
I remember some of the names mentioned above as some were senior boys & some class mates in St Columbus then Marist Primary. With all the upheaveal we have done pretty damn good. Its refreshing to come to a site with people remembering the good things in our lives and memories on some websites. The refreshing thing about Grubsheet compared to C4.5 is you go in to get a glimpse of the lates news and come out of that site with HIgh blood Pressure!
And for bro Ali, if you were wanting a 3 course meal than you have choice to fly Qantas or Virgin. Thats not to dificult to figure out.
The logo is best but service is pathetic. Lets call a spade a spade, hope vorege and Aiyaz look at air pacifica internals operations as they had the the best service about about five years ago but thinks have become pretty bad lately. Mr Pearle fingers job is not to maximize profit but give the best service so tourist can be so happy to travel to Fiji without a fus. The food is pathetic.
Air pacific is not an America Air line, it is there to transport the tourist with the most comfortable experience .
So far vorege and Aiyaz have fixed everything in Fiji except air Pacifica service.
Thats why the old slogan was ‘Air Pathetic’.
Hopefully, the current crewe will lift the standard of service on long hau; flights.
A ham sandwich and a small packet of Punja’s chips is hopeless when you are travelling LAX – NADI.
Pfleiger …& Aiyazz, lift your bloomin game mate. You are believin your own rhetoric that all is good.
You can change the logo, the livery and the brand etc and all that BS, but if the standard of service remains the same on ‘Fiji Airways’ flights, then you are all pissing into the wind!T
They do better on Air PNG!
What a wank all this Fijii Airways stuff is
Masi or no Masi,
Fiji Airways cant even deliver more that a single ham slice sandwich on their LAX-NADI flight…….
Vakaloloma dina
Fly Air PNG folks coz that where all the Fiji expertise is at!
@ Graham
This is great ‘vaseline job’ by Air Pacific and I am surpirised you fell for it.
Their best talent have left in droves …they all in PNG and with the ‘Emirates’ n ‘Etihad’ etc…..
Kathy, I’m fully aware of the deficiencies of Air Pacific and the high level of local dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the product. Food is one of them and I too have been handed something I couldn’t eat. My view is that it’s better to not serve meals at all if you can’t serve up something tasty and nutritious. But I’m assured that the new management is working on a comprehensive revamp of every aspect of the airline’s operations and we ought to give them time to do it.
The fact is that Dave Pflieger and his team have done a remarkable job of keeping Air Pacific flying and in the black at a time when senior airline analysts wondered if that was remotely possible. A former CEO of the airline told me a few months ago that Air Pacific’s survival was very much line ball and there was no certainty that it could stay in the air. He thought it quite probable that it would either go bust or keep flying only by being swallowed up by Emirates or some crowd much bigger.
Pflieger may be unpopular with some disgruntled present and former staffers because he has had to ruthlessly wield the axe on certain work practices that people had got used to. But the bottom line is that Air Pacific’s fortunes have rarely looked brighter. Look at that bottom line. The airline made a profit when its part-owner Qantas made a massive loss. What does that tell us? Certainly that Qantas has nothing to teach Dave Pflieger about running an airline.
I think the guy is a bloody genius and Fiji is extremely fortunate to have him. Certainly, he’s a big hero in government and rightly so. He’s almost certainly rescued a basket case and his strategy seems to be working. He’s a notorious penny pincher but containing costs and maximising returns is what separates the winners and losers in one of the most cut-throat businesses in the world.
You’ve got to remember that Air Pacific went from being a cosy monopoly on a fair number of routes from Nadi, especially to Australia, under the protective wing of its big brother Qantas. Qantas then turned hostile, putting its low cost carrier, Jetstar, in as a competitor to Air Pacific. Virgin also entered the market and from then on, Air Pacific was fighting for market share and its life.
It might sound silly to say so but the survival of Air Pacific is not just the responsibility of the management but every Fijian who travels. It is clearly in the national interest for it to remain flying or we risk Fiji being held hostage to the whims of a ruthless bunch of carpetbaggers who will fly off the minute the going gets tough. We saw that clearly in 1987.
Stripped to the essentials, Air Pacific is the only airline that really cares about Fiji and its economic wellbeing. And we’ve seen that repeatedly during natural disasters when the airline has carried relief supplies in from overseas free of charge. Whatever our gripes ( and there are many judging even from the comments here ) we should stand by it and try to support it as much as we can. I’m not stupid enough to say it’s a patriotic duty. But I do think people need to give the present management clear air and the space it needs to make the promised changes. And we should choose Air Pacific over its competitors whenever its schedules suit us. It’s an extension of the country’s economy and a healthy Air Pacific is a healthy Fiji.
In their criticism, some people often don’t seem to realise that they are comparing apples with pears. What do you get on Jetstar? Not even free water. So of course the food is better when you are handing cash over to the flight attendant for it. Otherwise that food wouldn’t sell. Air Pacific, on the other hand, is a full service airline. No matter how inedible you think that piece of cardboard masquerading as a sandwich was, you still got a Fiji Water, a Fiji Bitter or a glass of wine on the house. They’re trying to make that sandwich better and I’m sure they’ll succeed. Just as the new A330s are certain to be a lot more reliable than the ageing 747s that keep breaking down and ruining the schedules.
Let’s hope the new name places Fiji Airways even more solidly in the psyche of the traveling public as “first choice when you fly to Fiji”. From what I can gather talking to board members and the management, that’s the aim and they are progressively trying to address the existing shortcomings. Let’s give them a fair opportunity without too much carping.
You are absolutely right Cathy. Air Pacific is a big charade, it has been for many years.
Air Pacs haughty attendants with their phoney smiles do not embody that most important of i’Taukei traditions – friendliness – unless this tradition is reserved for whites.
Air Pacs friendliness is overhyped.
In truth, Air Pacific and its pompous flight attendants, who seem to think the sun shines out of there, are a disgrace to the i-taukei tradition of friendliness.
Beneath the millions spent on advertising and marketing, the airlines staff lack in some basic things, such as treating everyone equally.
Friendliest airline in the world my arse. It is a white-faced lie, a marketing hype. The manners of the frontline staff is perhaps excusable given their limited age, experience, education.
What about the senior managers? They are mature, experienced, educated, supposedly wiser. What are they doing? How do they live themselves?
Screw all the hype and bullshit. First thing Air pac needs to do is institute an education programme aimed at de-colonising the minds od their staff and instilling some human values and dignity them because it is sorely lacking.
More than the passengers, Air Pac will be doing its staff a big favour of it can teach them to be more proud of who they and how to treat people properly.
Especially people whose taxes keep the damn airline afloat and the wages of the staff!
I recently travelled on the route from hong kong to Fiji and back and the meal was fine, ive travelled the lax to Fiji route too but thats few years back and food was fine on that one too. I think it all boils down to how picky and unprepared you are, I always try and book the evening flight out and before boarding I always have a big feed before check in because we all know in most airlines breakfast is the best meal, I especially love the omellete.
On the recent hong kong leg of the journey I was very happy, I had seconds and thirds, I had a constant supply of fiji bitter until I felt asleep, when I woke up everyone was still sleeping so I went to the service area and the air hostess acknowledged that ive woken and asked how I was, and said if I wanted anything which I replied rum and coke lol, she then talked me into having a nice cup of team with some biscuits which was a better choice.
And when it was breakfast time they came and said that if I wanted seconds just to wait abit after they’ve served everyone and then if theres left overs then I can help myself which I did. I had a good experience and before leaving the plane I went around to thank them and told them that their service was great. They thank me back and to my surprise told me that it was not often that a local boy comes around to thank them, normally its just tourists.
Thanks Moto….,
I too have had good experiences with Air Pacific….except recently with the food…and I’m sure they will listen to the paying customers…..
When people talk of service, are they only talking of food????? To me it seems that is the only case….except for one Solanki, all other seem to have issues with food…
And just a suggestion to all those complaining….( I for one is optimistic about Air Pacific’s ability to improve), please when you pack your carry on luggage, leave your egos at home…
A little please and a thank you to the hostesses flies you further in your journey…I know mine always does.
So they told you that it was not often that a local boy comes around to thank them, normally its just tourists.
DID YOU ASK THEM THE OBVIOUS QUESTION?-IS YOUR ENTHUSIASM, SMILE,RESPONSE TIME,ATTEMPTS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM SAME FOR THE LOCAL BOY AS THE TOURISTS?
Not rocket science-
There is a blatant difference! Be it asking for a wine or even to ask for a newspaper, you have to ask at least 3 times, and the”tourist” next to you gets it in 10 seconds!
FIJI AIRWAYS?- NO THANKS- its the same horse with the same jockey
I am more concerned of reaching my destination safely than whining about food.
True dat bro.
Raniga
Dont be a whiner, you have decided that you wont be flying Air Pac/ Fiji Airways anymore, so be it. Air Pac/ Fiji Airways will continue to fly even after your demise.
Air Pac/ Fiji Airways will continue to fly even after my demise.?
I doubt it if the taxpayer will fund it forever! Lets see how long they last with their attitude and their business sense!
I am definitely like hundred of others who say NO THANK YOU
Hope Air PNG picks up the AUST/FIJI route.
Can’t understand your reasoning S Raniga. Maybe you’d like PNG to take over Fiji as well. And all this for a poor sandwich and a surly flight attendant? Perhaps better that you stay on Air Pacific’s competitors. The rest of us will have a much more pleasant flight.
No Graham I do not want PNG to take over Fiji. All I want is more competition from a fellow region airline. And it has nothing to with a sandwich ( mostly they never gave me a meal anyway – leave alone the sandwich!). I have experienced Air Pacific anything up to 60 times until the competition came. Yes you are correct in saying i should stay with the competitors.
YES YOU WILL HAVE A MUCH MORE PLEASANT FLIGHT THAN ME BEYOND DOUBT. The reason? READ MY EXPERIENCES AGAIN- Wont be rocket science I promise you . You will easily understand my reasoning.
I think after 60 odd flights with them, no one incident was the decider.
S Raniga
Yes Fiji Airways will continue to fly after you have long gone. If you want to be treated like a King, buy a private jet, surely you can afford it, you are a businessman.
Raniga has a point.
He is manking a valid criticism.
To equate it to complaining about a stale sandwich displays a lack of understanding and oversimplification of a bigger problem.
If Raniga’s complaint is taken seriously, it can improve service.
Some people in the service industry in Fiji suffer from a serious case of inferiority complex.
I am ashamed to say that Fiji hotel and airline workers see themselves, and all other locals, as inferior to tourists.
This is evident in the different manner in which they treat tourists and locals. These workers see themselves as beneath the tourists, and bend over backwards to serve them, as if to fulfil some internal need.
They see non-tourists, brown skinned people like themselves, as inferiors,and will ignore them. You can’t help but pity these workers.
Being polite, courteous, friendly is one thing.
But the way they fawn over tourists and defer to them is embarrassing to watch.
Often workers will not extend a fraction of the same courtesies to locals. It is a sad reflection of these workers’ own lack of esteem, and an example of coloured racism against fellow coloureds.
The airline and tourism industry are equally pathetic.
They know this problems exists, but do nothing. The system is so damn screwed up – how can they live with it, especially the educated people who are in charge. Aren’t they disgusted with what they see?
The service industry needs to run a major social education campaign to de-colonise their workers’ and some training in confidence building because at the moment the service industry is a disgrace; it is undignified, and demeaning, more for the poor, pathetic workers than anyone else. My overseas friends notice and mention how they are soembarrassed by it.
SPOT ON! Right on the money!
Air pacific staff should treat everybody as equal regardless of if they are tourist or locals travelling.
If such problem exits the management should look into it immediately. Everybody is paying the same fare so service should be equal to everyone.
Critics about the airline is ok because it will give the airline management a feedback that something’s are not fine and things have to change or heads have to roll.
I don’t fly to eat a good food but if it is part of the fare package, they should supply a meal as it was supplied about five years ago.
If cost minimization is the issue than don’t make meal part of the fare plan, I would rather buy and have eat quality food and drinks than something inferior for free.
I have been travelling 2 to 3 time a year to Fiji for the last ten years and I travel about once in two week s in au/nz or pacific islands for my job so I can see the difference. Let’s give air Fiji some time as graham has requested and hope things change.
Has AIR PACIFIC and the HOTELS worked out how the lucrative Japanese market just fell over despite being a monopoly on the route?
If one understands a little of the Japanese people, they will not DEMAND anything. They are always polite and humble. They quietly walk away if they feel discriminated against.
Imagine the Japanese tourist watching the airline cabin crew or the hotel staff falling over backwards to the Europeans while ignoring them or serving them “because I have-to” attitude.
NO you wont find ANY ex Japanese tourist traveler on this website or complaing to the airline. FIJI has lost a lucrative market= yet another causality because of the famous racial attitude!
The people in the hospitality industry MUST BE EDUCATED that today CHINA is the superpower in just about everything. The days of the Europeans only being guests in the hotel or airline IS LONG GONE!
@ Raniga Has a Point:
I think you and Raniga have a serious attitude problem judging from your whining. Has it ever crossed your mind that maybe you are not receiving the royal treatment you think you are entitled to because you are both sad sacks? I have travelled Air Pacific as many times as you have and maybe more. I have yet to experience bad treatment or discourtesy and I think it’s because I take it on myself, always, to offer the first courtesies, the hellos, the smiles, the thank yous, etc. I don’t wait for them to do these things first, knowing that they may be tired, exhausted, (possibly from attending to sad sacks like you) or for the hundreds of other reasons why individual do not perform at peak level.
But I don’t see how you can equate the discourteous treatment that you say you receive with discrimination based on color. Could you please tell us how you made that connection?
Please lay off these workers, they are underpaid, possibly overworked, and don’t need anyone to tell them that they lack self esteem or that they suffer from an inferiority complex. Judging from the readiness with which you connected discourteous treatment you say you receive and color discrimination, I would suggest that it is you suffers from an inferiority complex.
My suggestion to you is to not use Air Pacific. There are numerous other alternatives and if you can’t find any then get yourself a row boat and row gently down the stream.
Plumbeus,
Thanks for flying to the defence of Air Pac Workers, even if it is ill-conceived.
And you can’t even tell the diference between whining and a legitimate complaint.
I am not a demanding passenger or guest.
I have experienced a few slights on a few occasions but let it go.
Once I was with a female friend who was behind me in a que.
This particular worker ignored me and tried to serve her first.
It was done instinctively, without realising it.
My female friend went red-faced. She does not think she is superior to anyone else, and does not want to be treated that way.
She politely but firmly told the worker that I was in line first, and to serve me first.
She was still shaken after the incident.
For me it was no big deal, and I felt sorry for embarrassed worker.
I am not a sad sack – I am cheerful, uncomplaining and easy going.
I believe in treating everyone, regardless of race, colour or creed, equally.
I try to be polite and courteous to people as much as possible.
Air pac staff are paid to do this, but often they don’t.
Over years there have been so many complaints from so many people.
There are serious problems with Air Pac staff – if you haven’t experienced it personally, fine.
But do not make judgements about me and Raniga. I am guessing you are white – you cannot empathise with us.
I have personally witnessed Air pac flight attendants’ rudeness and impatience towards one chinese family who could not speak english fluently. Had it been a white family, they woud have been falling over themselves to serve them, as they measure their worth against how well they serve whites. It is demeaning for them, they should be made aware of it and their minds need to be de-colonised. Flight attendants should be taught to treat with decency people who pay their wages and keep their airline afloat i. After all, we are not flying free on their fathers’ airline, are we?
To Avinesh
That what we call a warm and friendly welcome … Fijian!!! ???
Are you some kind of moderator or governemtal observer.. police officer ?…
I do not have to justify myself by any means.
This blog belong to Graham DAVIES not to your. period. Its a respecteous plateform of expression. Not you . Nowhere it is mentioned to show ID card ?….
It is my own opinion and experience I am expressing here and share with others – not on behalf of my company- which has done branding for decades in the aviation industry and beyond… additionally adding my decade as airline staff.
So I know (even if my English can be on-so on-so) what I am talking about.
Sounds like you are not able to express much more than your aggressiveness.
So, no interest to exchange with any longer… looking for rich comments.
Regards from Outside Europe 🙂
Plumbeus-
Clearly U DONT UNDERSTAND ENGLISH!
1)Thanks for your suggestion that i dont use Air Pacific- For you info i have clearly stated that I do not use Air Pacific since the competitor arrived,nor do i wish to in the future use them. thanks- As stated earlier to me it will be the same horse , same jockey= different uniform
2) I also like everyone else I take it on myself, always, to offer the first courtesies, the hellos, the smiles, the thank yous, etc. I don’t wait for them to do these things first.If the hostesses ARE tired, exhausted, its because they fall over backwards attending to tourists (read whiteman) and definitely NOT because of attending to guys like me!( PLEASE READ MY EXPERIENCES WITH AIR PAC AGAIN-) For your INFO they just dont bother about people like me!
Havent you heard of the joke- “When travelling Air Pacific, please take extra care when going to the toilets not to step on any cabin crew in case they have fallen over in the aisle with joy and glee serving a whiteman!”.
3) You say”I don’t see how you can equate the discourteous treatment that you say you receive with discrimination based on color. Could you please tell us how you made that connection?” hahaha This must be rocket science! I request for a newspaer 3 times and nothing arrives- The whiteman next to you asks for the same paper- HE GETS 2 PAPERS IN 10 SECONDS! I have a kilo extra luggage- I GET CHARGED, the tourist (read whiteman) has extra luggage? NO PROBLEMS! I order a wine, wait and wait. The tourist in front of you orders a drink- he gets it in 10 seconds!!! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME COUNTLESS TIMES! When you board the aircraft, have you ever noticed the cabin crew ethnicity make up? DID IT EVER OCCUR TO YOU (since you claim you have travelled on AIRPAC more than me) that something is amiss or some people have been probably left out for obvious reasons? or do you wear glasses but leave the glasses home every time you fly?
4) You say “Please lay off these workers, they are underpaid, possibly overworked, and don’t need anyone to tell them that they lack self esteem or that they suffer from an inferiority complex. Judging from the readiness with which you connected discourteous treatment you say you receive and color discrimination, I would suggest that it is you suffers from an inferiority complex.
FOR YOU INFORMATION I HAVE NEVER SAID ANYTHING TO ANYBODY OR HAVE ACCUSED THEM OF HAVING NO SELF ESTEEM- thats your word NOT MINE.
Like lots of others I simply moved on to other airlines. Never complained or whinged at anybody. Judging by your response It is YOU that has an inferiority complex.. You cant even put your real name so that the topic can be understood better.
LASTLY- WHENEVER I hear Air Pac calling themselves ‘WORLDS FRIENDLIEST AIRLINE” it brings a smile to my face! YEAH RIGHT! DEPENDS ON WHAT COLOR OR ETHNICITY YOU ARE!
Listen, I’m sorry guys, I didn’t mean to insult anyone or belittle their complaints. It’s just that I think the new management of Air Pac says it’s working on a broad revamp to improve services and I think they should be given a chance to deliver. No point in launching Fiji Airways next year with the same crappy food and service, as I’m sure you’ll all agree. If by then they don’t change what many here seem to believe is a “two class” attitude by staff – one for tourists and one for locals – I’ll be happy to be the first to put the boot in.
My point was that only people who wish Fiji ill would want Air Pacific to fail. It’s an important national symbol apart from anything else. The notion that the Fiji Government is propping up the airline is nonsense. Air Pacific has to succeed in the marketplace or die. And fortunately for all of us, Dave Pflieger’s team seems to be succeeding. As usual, time will tell but let’s all give them a chance. And no, more competition isn’t the answer. There’s more than enough already.
In Fiji nobody stops for a second to think what someone is trying to say. The general reaction is shoot the messenger first then decide whether he had a point. Thank you Samson about your “rats ass comment”. My submission had nothing to do with the the money aspect of things. It was highlighted to make a point. Every passenger pays fairly for a seat on the plane and everyone is contributing towards Air Pacific’s survival local and tourists so why are we being treated differently. In fact as Graham has highlighted quite aptly Air Pacific hangs around even in the bad days. Guess what Air Pacific and the tourism industry only survives when things go wrong because of the locals who continue to use their service. Have a few soldiers shoot a few guns in Suva and let Radio Australia report on it walla no tourists. I distinctively remember the Ass kissing i got at the local hotels when the 2006 takeover happened. No tourists then you remember the locals that seems to be the way things are in Fiji. What the likes of Raniga and others are saying is that Air Pacific and perhaps the tourism industry in Fiji as a whole has a problem and it need to be addressed. What i am saying about Air Pacific is simple it does not have the same level of service that it had a few years ago. Their has been huge sacrifices made in customer comfort and for those of us who travel a lot these are not livable do a ways so we chose other airlines .I mean seriously how much more will a small airline sized tray of decent food cost. Not more then a few extra dollars from the cost of the sandwich. What is happening now is not good for Air Pacific. If they keep loosing customers like us who travel regularly what happens when the bad times hit. Who will they rely on to pay the bills then. I am a proud Fijian but not an Idiot. I would like to support my national Airline
but i will not enter intro a bad deal. With Air Pacific at the moment that is what i am getting. That was the point i was trying to make Mr. Samson. Their was a lot more to complain about on the flight to and from LA. I did not bother because a previous complaint about lost baggage was never even replied too. Just as putting wolves skin on top of a sheep does not make the sheep a wolf changing the name and logo of Air Pacific will not change the Airline for the better. It needs fundamental changes not cosmetic ones.
……
… looking for rich comments.
Special thanks to Ali and some others, very instructive and honest comments and shared experience is highly valuable and you are expressing very sincerely your frustration. You have the Entire right to do it.
Tks
well its time tfor change air pathetic..the masi design would make a better difference..
Nice posting, Graham,
A brand logo normally embraces what is wholesome in a brand and its intent. Makereta has precisely captured this concept in her design of the Fiji Airways brand logo.
To quote Grubsheet Feejee: “At the centre is a distinctive Teteva motif, which Makareta says represents spirituality, consideration for others, Fijian hospitality, and the connection that Fiji Airways will offer the rest of the world.”
Let’s hope that the vision that is captured in the brand logo is expressed strongly in the administration of, and the services that will be provided by the Fiji Airways.
This should be one of the many cogs in the wheel of progress of a just, friendly, peaceful and prosperous FIji.
Loloma
ET
S Raniga
Since you have a problem with white people getting first preference and low quality food, buy a Cessna Citation x or a lear jet and enjoy. Thats what rich people like you do when they want the best for themselves.
Avinesh- YOUR INFERIORTY COMPLEX IS SO STRONG= if you accept that white people be served first even if your ordered earlier or are in a queue ahead of them- i have no problem with it!
Clearly you feel inferior to them. For your info -i have NOT mentioned ANY quality of food- THEY DO NOT SERVE VEGETARIANS!- Clearly you dont understand!
AND – you feel I am richer than you just because my name makes you feel poorer! HAVE SOME SELF ESTEEM!
Please take care when you fall over backwards with joy when you yell BOOOLA at the white people.
Hello Fijians and all Oceanians,
I can see that this rebranding activate vivid comments.
Nice to read your various experience with Air Pacific.
My work is about branding, airline branding… so I know what it means to elaborate and activate a new identity and the whole brand around.
One of yours was mentioning that brand is more than logo (oh yes!) and would add it start by being educated and polite first. Which has not been the case of FJ Head Management regarding all the emails my company send to them, CEO included.- No replies –
I had to connect with your Government to be lightened up on was going on with this rebranding initiative (annouced last May). I am talking there of B2B communication right !..
I know you are all very enthusiast with this new symbol that will (probably ?) become the new identity of Fiji Airways. Its normal, suppose the Air Pacific brand was too generic to build a national Fijian proud(means not enough reflective of the richness of Fijian culture and heritage) – Which by all means I do utmost respect – I am base in Europe so longway from you guys :-)..and even though love Pacific islanders.
Brand identity and branding MUST respect some rules to be performant, Yes brand identity is there to create market leadership, competitivness, notoriety a BIG mission for such tiny symbol. There are some pillars and “dos and dont’s” that have to be acknowledged and applied (sound like a teacher now).
I love the work of local artist Makereta. But if you ask me a question if this ethnical-inspired artfact will work fine at a brand identity smashing test. My response is probably NO. (I here you screaming from distance).
YES! it does reflects Fijian heritage, Yes it is beautifully executed, Yes it has been done with generosity and wholeheartly… but it get more to be an International stature symbol to work OUTSIDE of Fiji – You most broaden you scope with this issue and stop nimbleing. If you aim to act Global (which an airline does) Act Global – not Local !
A good logo is FIRST simple (this one is complex form and content)
A good logo is Meaningful ( Fiji Airways doesn’t solely fly Fijians if by any means Fijians understand the Meaning of the logo – NOT what it is or representing – the Meaning) what Mareketa has inject in it. Her thoughs. But a company logo is the translation of the company strategy . It can be the expression of one single person. That the BIG difference between Art and Design.
A good logo (for an international airline though) must be depicted by ALL audiences not locals only. Sorry, we talk business issue there. FIJI AIRWAYS is Global carrier not LOCAL carrier. The company must adapt to audience not the opposite. If the logo dont print the mind the first time is F..ck up. That is why there a few great brands and millions of anonyme ones… Fiji Airways don”t have the million dollars of a Coke of Nike to go Massive balistic with the new logo (this could help to build its brand new notoriety ) Yes guys the Company (air pacific) is veteran but the Fiji Airways rebirthing is a Babe. Its a brand new departure for the company. So the millions should be injected in people trainings and salary, that were the branding earning money MUST GOES !.. not in advertisings. I wonder to see how long they are going to keep Makereta in the target…they will come to the beautiful hostesses sooner of later. I promess. Good brand identity does its advertising by itself. And if adopted (by audience) belong to PEOPLE …not company (despite what they think)
A logo is not DECORATVE ornement (even full of symbolism and beautifully exceuted)*
A logo is COMMUNICATIVE and Business purpose,
A logo is shorthand message understand by everyone, very fast !!
Will the message get through ?… difficulty and will probably take years…
-Why expect ROI if there is no investment ?..
Why this Management’s airline did not call up for creative professional expertise to assist and guide?… rather than to do all “submarine”. What the problem with them ? Do they have the arrogance to pretend to be branding experts ?
They have money to order Millions dollars brand new aircrafts and not budget to hire at least one Branding consultancy !!! – explain to me please !
The strategy is good, “Becoming Fijian again”, the intention is very honorable BUT the whole execution poor and miss the target and objectives, business objectives.
Those guys know nothing at branding, nothing even what design is and serve for.
Any design school wannabee would have even not done the mistakes they did in the graphic execution at least 3 majors ones.
There is a business airline behind, there is employments… you hold serious responsibility when you decide to go for such radical changes with such long lifespan brand as Air Pacific. I regret not having the chance to give a good brand & Branding refresher to this CEO.
Let make the statement clear !… we are not taking about Mareketa works AT ALL ! She is a wonderful symbol of what Fiji “really” is – People, first – not solely Resorts for honeymooners and so…and her incredible talent could have been put a better use than for the Identity…Interiors design and uniform for example etc.. (limitiless).
I feel it is a sort of “manipulation” from the management to federate Fijian (naively) behind the new brand and to avoid any waves with this radical change.. no ?
They took you by the sentiment somehow … and it works !… if I read some comments above.
If this is just a badge or commonly say ” Lipstick over Pig” someone made another version above ;-)..the audience and stakeholders will not be naive longtime and brand the brand new A330 livery will cover up the potential weaknesses…
Anyway, thank you for your reading and I would like to have some of you comments moderate please, to open the debate that some of you local newpapers have been cleared out !! from their comments box… viva speech freedom !
Whish the best luck anyway to future FIJI AIRWAYS and to all Flying Fijians
Longhaul thanks 🙂
“Outsider”, thanks for your valuable insights but I think you’ve missed one vital component in your appraisal of the new branding. I think the logo isn’t remotely as important as the name “Fiji” in front of Airways.
Fiji is already a valued global brand as in “Fiji Water”. It stands for a certain remoteness, beauty and exotica and already occupies a clean and friendly space in the international consciousness. And the really extraordinary thing is that none of this has been sullied by the country’s reputation for political instability.
Visitor arrivals in Fiji have never been higher. But the name change from Air Pacific to Fiji Airways was specifically aimed at dissolving a generic islands image and aligning the airline more closely with the Fiji national brand that has become a global phenomenon in itself. I guess Barack Obama drinking Fiji Water is the apotheosis of this.
The theory goes that if consumers throughout the world now instinctively reach for “Fiji Water” on their supermarket shelves, they’re much more likely to choose Fiji Airways as their preferred airline. The challenge is to protect the Fiji brand so that nothing comes onto the market to devalue its image. That’s why the new Fiji Airways has got to urgently rise to the challenge of some of the negative sentiments being expressed here about Air Pacific.
Hello Graham !
Thank you for your precious comments. I totally agree and share most of them at just a few points.
When I talk brand identity , I mean what I saw few days ago :
brown square + tevateva symbol + Fiji (Big) small airways logotype.
Please, allow me to do some logo advocacy.
– The tevateva is the Logo,
– The FIJI Airways is the logotype.
Two different elements sticked together. I have no doubts that despite some weakenesses in execution the FIJI wordmark (logotype) will be more looked after than the Tevateva symbol which too specific to memorized (but could probably be the opposite for the Fijians).
Simply because the brain read first, understand second. and this at nano seconds speed.
The brain can read a logo or immediately recognized and understand it (even a part of it!!) Show the swosh to anyone he/she will say Nike and so on…
Brand works hand in the hand with Neurosciences NOT graphics, colors and shapes etc… despite what commonly people think.
Memory sequential is the same for every human being. However you must take accountability of this scientific facts when you create an identity (What I am doing every day).
– Color +Shape + Content = Retention (if each step succeed to the others ,than the logo print the cortex)
To reach and remain in our “hard disk” you must add: Meaningfulness.
Its mandatory.
Next level is > the Pleasure of discovery and experience you have with a brand (I try) .
– If successful you get you pass to > ADOPT level “I love this brand, I want it” (I buy)…
if repeated experiences are joyfull, pleasant, inspiring etc.. then, you got the VIP pass for the Nirvana Lounge and you remain there as long as the brand keeps its promises (Loyalty and advocacy).
If the brand fails with its promise and delivery, then you downgrade to level zero… and People will go to use another Nirvana Brand lounge.
A beat simplest, but more or less that the way people establish Love and Hate relationship with brands.
**********************
No I did not l miss it any point, Graham, I took the whole picture and scan it through my long experience with brand and identities. I am totally convinced about the values and virtues of Fiji, that’s not the point. Even though this is what we normal call in our jargon Nation Branding.
Of course, any companies operating in Fiji can adhere and stick to those values and virtues. What FIJI AIRWAYS is strategically programming . It remains coherent to its various studies. Air Pacific naming was too generic and maybe not the appropriate naming and brand to match FIJI AIRWAYS new strategy. But is was a long lasting brand…
“And the really extraordinary thing is that none of this has been sullied by the country’s reputation for..”
…yes ! and that is the magic of branding. Good values remain and people want to believe in it. And that is also why branding is a very important issue for any company. It is amazingly powerful. Nowadays, however one parameter change the whole story is Internet.
People have an extraordinary window of expression (look your blog) and they can damage very rapidly a brand reputation admitting this one does behave poorly…or under deliver its promises. (not talking there about easy blackmailing that’s another issue).
Fiji water + Fiji Airways theory? Humm a little to quick shorthand. You can fly Fj and have a wonderful experience and disliking Fiji Water taste. Opposite, avoiding FJ, fly competitors and still enjoying Fiji water brand. The common links is Fiji name. But is doesn’t not necessarily impact one over each others. it ‘s two different experiences for me…even if both find their origin in Fiji.
Happy to listen that despite the economy crises leisure business is still high for Fiji .
“dissolving a generic islands image” ? No Graham, you do not work over people perceptions.. it would takes year for a brand to do so and millions dollars of communication, advertising and PR investments. People minds operates on basic concepts and sometime hard cliches/, Paris = Effiel Tower, Beret, baguette, perfumes, haute couture etc.. that the way it is. People build their own imaginary with million of ingredients and preconcive ideas. But you can always try to send the message… 🙂
The best profile and attitude so far for a brand is HONESTY.
Yes Barack was a fantastic brand ambassador for Fiji… but Makereta as well… any ones who love Fiji can be Fiji’s brand ambassador. It is people whom are doing brand advocacy.
Right ! the best protection is UNICITY and SINGULARITY, this avoid possible copycat. But airlines are by all means are more or less all the same. Same planes, seats, interiors, service, staff (?) etc…differenciation is Hard work and massive investments. More it is also staff commitment and dedication. Size does not matter, take a look to business performances of Air New Zealand.
“That’s why the new Fiji Airways has got to urgently rise to the challenge of some of the negative sentiments being expressed here about Air Pacific.”
I deeply hope so. Only time and customer will say it… urgently means going fast. going fast is not necessarily doing good.
Longhaul talk…thank you for your patience.
Best regards from France to all of yours
Vinaka Vaka Levu
Outsider
Please give credit to yourself and tell us your name, your company and what have you done on a global scale. If you cant do that then your comments better remain outside like your name.
To Avinesh
That what we call a warm and friendly welcome … Fijian!!! ???
Are you some kind of moderator or governemtal observer.. police officer ?…
I do not have to justify myself by any means.
This blog belong to Graham DAVIES not to your. period. Its a respecteous plateform of expression. Not you . Nowhere it is mentioned to show ID card ?….
It is my own opinion and experience I am expressing here and share with others – not on behalf of my company- which has done branding for decades in the aviation industry and beyond… additionally adding my decade as airline staff.
So I know (even if my English can be on-so on-so) what I am talking about.
Sounds like you are not able to express much more than your aggressiveness.
So, no interest to exchange with any longer… looking for rich comments.
Special thanks to Ali and some others very instructive and frank comments and shared experience is highly valuable and you are expressing very sincerely your frustration. You have the Entire right to do it.
Vinaka Vaka Levu 🙂
@ Ali
Spot on bro,
We are lasting customers because if there is a political uncertainty or natural disaster, we will continue to travel regardless .as for tourism , things will fluctuate with
Many factors.
Hope fully the regime takes a hint and start advising the air line and tourism industry to change their mindset and run training courses on customer service post colonial thinking.start treating everyone equall as the dollar is the same color and value wherther from a tourist or a chocolate local like me.
Graham
We should sack the Air Pac CEO and let Raniga take over with Ali as his assistant and outsider to brand the plane with vinny, maaney and others as flight attendants. I will probably have a manicure!!
@ Durga Prasad
You made my day …well night (I am at the opposite of the world 🙂
I feel sorry about all you ups and down with AP. I hope the CEO reads those lines… One thing I am touched by is despite those hiatus you have affection for your local airline, and our proud of it..no? ..hoping the great chnages will boost morale and made the airline what it should promise – The prefered south pacific airline –
Is any one ready to launch a competitor ?…;-)
@ Outsider > Bruno, Bruno outsider,
Good marketing points….here is my take also..
Since I see Kangaroo everyday , it is imprinted on my mind. When I travel to Fiji, I still use AirPacific. When I travel to US, I either take United or Delta ( right now I’m not sure what their logos look like) or when I travel to Canada I take Air Canada. All these flights originate from Australia whose national airline has a kangaroo logo.
I made a choice.
Grow up- this is a healthy discussion- that could lead to a better future for the national carrier. You comments are so CHILDISH!
Raniga
You dont get the point man, you think with all your money the airline will treat you like royalty. You are the one who is childish here crying and complaining when things dont go your way. As someone has said, go and buy a jet.
Grow up Durga= No one is asking for ROYALTY treatment and has nothing to do with how much money you or i have. BTW what makes you feel so inferior money wise?What makes you think i have more money? DID ANYONE SAY I WANT THIS OR THAT BECAUSE HE HAS MORE MONEY? Clearly this dicussion is out of your depth
Durga,
You are either a young boy, or a dopey adult.
Regardless, you are out of your depth.
You have shown you are incapable of understanding the issues.
Just butt out and save yourself further embarrassment.
Durga , we will leave the cleaning of the aircraft to you.
Cheers
Fiji Airways will continue to fly and make profit without you ASSHOLES!!!
I have also been a frequent flyer between Sydney and Fiji until recently; like Graham writes ” we need to give AP some space to complete what they need to do so that the airline can sustain it’s business long term”. And by the way I am also subjected to the problems highlighted by bloggers on this topic but hopefully soon we can see improvements in these areas. I, for one want AP to succeed even if it means I need to make small sacrifices in the meantime. Any business cannot continue to lose money and it would not be prudent from it’s shareholders to continue operating the same way in the hope things would turn around miraculously. Graham has also very clearly spelt out why Fiji needs to have it’s own airline, a no brainer, something we should all embrace.
On a different subject altogether….to get away from the abuse and counter abuse that this subject appears to be degenerating into…..whats with that silly ‘traditional’ owl suit that Koini Vakaloloma was forced to get into in Mongolia?
That was no traditional meke she performed but a some silly take on a traditional Pacific theme. Even the school kids on Tadra Kahani show can do very much better than that.
Why is it that some ‘blow in’ Kiwi like Andy Blake can come in and set up (hijack) Fijian (taukei) traditional theme just to make a name for himself on the world satge.
He stuffed up with Miss Watters age the first time around, now he stuffs up with a silly owl suit that he got Koini to get into.
The mind boggles!
Adios muchachos, me voy a casa
HERE ARE A FEW FACTS FROM TRAVELLING WITH AIR PACIFIC IN THE PAST FEW YEARS:
*the plane was always late – blaming the late arrival of the inbound flight
*more emphasis was placed on serving up alcohol (a want) then proper food (a need), if this is a problem, then don’t call it a “full service airline”. Did they really think all the passengers would get drunk and forget about their hunger?
*the coffee served was instant – what airline serves instant coffee?
*the domestic connection is nearly as expensive as the international flight alone…ridiculous! how are people from Suva supposed to make the flight at 8am when the first affordable bus arrives at Nadi airport at 10am??
THESE ARE THE FACTS….I’M SURE YOU CAN ADD MORE TO THE LIST!!
@ Durga
Your language reflect the size of your brain. We understand ….
Bula again Fijians!
Thanks to@ Chand, Duga, Ali and the others…
Please guys could you stop a minute to bit your nose. Lets get constructive here !!! dammed… no body got the right insights…its not ones against the others ..it is ones with the others.
This discussion it getting aways from the initial purpose (the branding blah blah issue) Now we start to touch the bottom of the problem you guys have – Love & Hate relationship with your airline. So try to remain Constructive. Don”t bring problems, try to think and bring solution (ok the purpose is no to do the Marketing job of some aren’t doing right ;-)…
What I can say. Monopoly situation is not good in airline business. Ideally there must be at least 3 operators (ideally) local to provide fair practices (price/service/innovations) for the customers. In Europe we use to have over dominating position with national flag carriers resulting to have (basis full fare Y) the same price for an regional hour flight than to fly to New York !
seems more or less what is happening in Fiji right ?
The ideal situation for an healthy market and, for the benefits of all of yours would be to AP to compete with one more Fijian carrier (longhaul/regional). First this situation will secure more the Fijian market and keep external challengers at its border…
In Europe the situation changed when Lowcost models arrived (more or less 15 yrs ago) …check the fantastic success of Easyjet for example. Ok, this not Disneyland, you can not get the lowest and have the greatest; Compromise must be done. The time of full frills airlines is over…and probably never will be back. People are ready to pay a fair price but they want what was promised with the purchase.
Or, usually airlines are in the mode : OVER PROMISE, UNDER DELIVERY
And when customers complain… they almost got a ” Dammed you should thanks God to fly you safely from A to Z at such price and speed while getting a free drink ! (we charge for the smile ups) Shame on you !! …” this is for the poor economy pax .Except if you are High contribution. Then a nice letter will land in your mail box adding of some Upgrades coupon, lounge invitation and additional miles bonus… lucky Business men ! that are not paying their proper ticket (their company does)…
This situation and thinking is Ab-so-lut-ty intolerable.
And Fijians (from all status and origins) should fight agaisnt vividly in order to obtain a respected status – as Customers/Client/Guest – by the airline they fly. (Rather than to get lured aways by and ethnic identity that will probably not changing the internal company culture, which I feel now after all your notes ).
However, I fully be reassured that some of yours (the one I can read) – extensive travelers flying the competition – have felt the difference and can argue constructively.
Q : Do you think it would be possible to settle a new Fijian airline or for political reason the market would remain frozen to new entrants (means a Fiji based airline) ?…
Q: Does it exist an national online librairy (e.g from Fijian National Museum) wher you can learm more about the Fijian culture and Handicraft ?…
Thanks You
Vinaka Vaka Levu from the opposite of the World 😉
Gracias Bruno por que comentas
@Durga Prasad
De nada Amigo 😉
Can people with complaints please lodge them with Air Pacific if you’re really interested in helping Air Pacific? Blogging is not going to cut it.
@ Singh is King
Should this company give you any form of reply.. they are not an airline, it is a submarine…will not use one single minute anymore to try to get them radioing me…it’s lost as in Triangle Bermuda… and suppose a lot of people in this blog have been trying before and finally drop the sponge and the water with it..and decide to invest their Fijian dollars in another airline cashbox… at least one that was respecting and listening to them.
Air Pacific’s service has been truly terrible. The flights into Fiji from Syd are frequently late and the food is just awful. This rebranding is a farce. For Davis to say that Pflieger is a genius and compare Air Pac to Qantas is just ridiculous. They have very different cost structures and scale of operations. But such is to be expected from armchair experts.
Repainting the aircraft with the new logos will take time with the airplanes grounded as it is painted over. What about the exisiting uniforms, signage and unused stationery, packaging, ticket blanks etc? What happens to them, another unecessary expense.
This is cosmetic nonsense and paints over the cracks of what makes a truly succesful airline. Davis “article” is simplistic and fawning.
Better by far to read Sean Dorney’s factual article on the recent death of the Australian tourist and callous treatment by Air Pac staff and tourism/police officials. Sa vakaloloma o Viti. Then Powell the incompetent PS for God knows what goes into damage control and offers a lame apology.
Yes, yes, ho hum. The kind of person who wants to see Air Pacific fail and Australian visitors boycott Fiji. And for what? The scorched earth policy of destroying the country because you can’t get your political way. Diddums. You’ll get your chance at the ballot box in two year’s time. In the meantime, wallow in your negativity. The rest of us want to see Fiji succeed.
Actually dear Graham, Sean Dorney is much more highly regarded amongst the Aust media fraternity and adademia then you are. Sour grapes much? Even in Fiji, he’s more highly respected than a faux-Fijian like you, oops. Air Pac rebranding is a white elephant, pie in the sky exercise.