ASPA notes 10 of 14 Pacific Island countries have their own airline, region 'very different'

Association of South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) secretary general George Faktaufon, speaking at the CAPA Australia Pacific Aviation Summit, said (05-Aug-2016) the South Pacific region is "very different" from others in that it is "totally dependent on inbound tourism." Mr Faktaufon noted: "We need an air transport system that is stable and viable… We've had some experience where reliance on foreign carriers, which has been very bad in many occasions." Mr Faktaufon continued: "As a result of our need to have a stable air transport system, many governments have set up their own airlines and we have 14 independent countries in the Pacific with 10 national airlines. Almost every country has a national airline."