Flight Centre forced to delay new Fiji service

Hundreds of New Zealanders have had their holiday plans disrupted after the country's largest travel retailer postponed plans to fly to Fiji because it has not gained approval.

The Government has approved the flights, but Fiji authorities have not.

The Flight Centre was to start a regular service from Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch later this month but has postponed its flights for a fortnight to April 9.

The company is to use 737s for the flights, which started at $499 return. Bookings are understood to have been heavy. Each plane seats 136 people.

All those booked on flights during March will either get a full refund or be rebooked in April at no extra cost, Flight Centre communications manager Clare Naden said.

Freedom Air flights from Hamilton and Palmerston North to Fiji starting in April have not been affected.

The Air New Zealand subsidiary has approvals from both the Fiji and New Zealand Governments for a weekly service.

The inaugural Freedom flight out of Hamilton on April 29 is 75 per cent full while other services during the school holidays from July 2-19 are sold out.

The Flight Centre's announcement today is the second blow for the company, which is using Auckland aviation company Airwork to provide the planes under charter.

Last month, soon after the Flight Centre's plans for Fiji flights were announced, Air NZ took out an injunction against Airwork demanding the return of a photocopied operating manual for a Boeing 737-300 jet.

The High Court action was the result of Airwork staff photocopying an Air NZ Boeing 737-300 flight manual without permission.

Sources in Fiji say some motel and resort owners are angry that the Flight Centre has cancelled rooms the company had block booked.

Ms Naden said customers were put off by the limited array of properties on offer through the retailer.

"We want to offer a wider choice as we are getting the demand for Fiji but not necessarily all for certain properties."

She would not say which properties were affected.

- NZPA