March 29, 2013

Fiji's Airbus flyby

By GERALDINE PANAPASA
Friday, March 15, 2013

Update: 2:39PM SUVA and Pacific Habour residents may be able to catch a glimpse of the new Airbus A330 next week after Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum revealed yesterday the aircraft might fly over the areas and several islands.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum made the comment while addressing guests at the launch of Nanuku Cove Estates in Pacific Harbour.

With the first of the three new Rolls-Royce-powered A330-200 heavy gross weight aircraft expected in the country on March 19, Fiji's national carrier, Air Pacific, said the new planes would replace its Boeing 747 fleet.

The airline, which was expected to be flying as Fiji Airways soon, announced today its international banking partners German-based KfW IPEX-Bank and Helaba had signed a financing agreement for the first aircraft with a commitment to finance the two additional aircrafts secured.

The financing agreement was guaranteed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD) of the British Government with reinsurance provided by Coface of France and Euler Hermes of Germany.

In a statement, Air Pacific chairman Nalin Patel said they were pleased with the support demonstrated by its banking partners and the European Credit Agencies.

The second and third aircraft are expected to be delivered in May and November respectively.

Air Pacific said earlier the A330-200s were the first brand new wide-body aircraft ever purchased by the national carrier and were valued in the Airbus catalogue at a price of $US600million ($F1.069billion).

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