Fledgling Palau based carrier Pacific Flier has suspended its operations to allow for a review of the airline’s fleet and schedule.
Pacific Flier had started operations in March utilising an Airbus A310 operated by Portuguese airline HiFly flying from Palau to the Gold Coast, Guam and Clark (Manilla) as charters. The airline was focused on attracting leisure traffic to Palau, as well as carrying shipments of tuna to markets in Asia. However, difficulties in securing traffic rights and a failure to secure freight has seen the airline make the decision to suspend its services.
“It is unfortunate that the airline was launched prematurely, but we are focussed on a re-launch once workable traffic rights have been achieved and when terminal access has been improved at Koror Airport in Palau,” said Pacific Flier’s senior vice president – airline operations Neil Hansford.
The airline says that it has secured a replacement aircraft, with a relaunch dependent on gaining clearance from US regulators to fly to Guam, as well as the review of its route network. It is not clear if the carrier will continue its weekly service to the Gold Coast when it resumes operations. The airline is understood to be backed by Queensland based investors.
