APAS: Aviation in the South Pacific is still an essential service

Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) secretary general George Faktaufon, speaking at the CAPA Aviation Training & Safety Summit, stated (03-Aug-2016) that airlines in the South Pacific are faced with a challenge of size - they are small airlines operating small aircraft, in small markets on long thin routes. Air transport in the South Pacific is "still very much an essential service" according to Mr Faktaufon, and governments are willing to retain state ownership of airlines and provide subsidies for them given the importance of inbound tourism and trade for nation economies.