Air Pacific charts its future course as a rebranded Fiji Airways when MD Dave Pflieger departs

Air Pacific takes delivery of its first of three new A330-200 aircraft on 19-Mar-2013, heralding the start of a new era as a rebranded Fiji Airways. But the carrier will chart its new course without inspirational MD Dave Pflieger who is returning to the United States when his three year contract ends in May-2013.

Mr Pflieger will be a tough act to follow, having delivered a quite remarkable turnaround of Air Pacific's fortunes during his tenure. Mr Pflieger led a 360 degree review and restructure of an ailing Air Pacific, financially putting the carrier back on its feet by reversing record losses, re-equipping its wide-body fleet and culminating in the airline rebranding to its 1960s name, Fiji Airways, in Jun-2013.

Mr Pflieger will take up a new position as president and CEO of United States regional carrier Silver Airways based in Florida. His departure is a potential risk to Air Pacific's expansion plans, particularly in the valuable United States market where Mr Pflieger's American airline background meant he was well placed both to understand and implement connections and leverage the codeshare agreement with American Airlines which was signed in Dec-2011.