by Marie Kauna – EMTV Online, Port Moresby
Chairman of Fiji Airways, Nalin Patel has commended his staff for what he described as “yet another outstanding performance” for the first half of the company’s operations for 2015.
The company has set a new operating profit record before tax of $17.5 million (US$8.1 million) from January to 30 June.
The profit results were sincerely welcomed by the Attorney General and Minister for Aviation, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Minster Khaiyum said the profit results have now laid a solid foundation for the Airlines’ future growth including its new routes and the new aircraft.
In addition, David Bowden, Fiji Airways Acting CEO, highlighted the strong overall performance of the Groups International Network and commends the good performance to maintain the profit record for the next half.
According to Patel, the key drivers for the company’s underlying profit record was “a 6.7 % increase in passenger numbers for the first six months of the year and a 4.7% increase in our overall revenue”.
He added that “While there is no room for complacency, we are seeing some excellent results from the financial growth plan that Fiji Airways has had in place since last year, with its emphasis on strong fiscal discipline and continuously improving efficiencies”.
Patel commends the strong support from staff, shareholders and management who have been able to make sound financial and commercial decisions that now benefit the people, the tourism industry and the entire Fiji economy.
The company is now looking forward to maintaining this new profit record and thus looks forward to the coming second half of operations for the year 2015.
These results show that the profit has improved from $15.4 million of last year for the same period and is now the highest six-monthly result in the history of the company.
