Turtle Airways is looking to expand its fleet in the near future.
This was confirmed by the company’s accountable manager, Richard Evanson Junior, in an interview recently.
Turtle Airways has been a pioneer from its Nadi base. It has been operating it’s seaplane transfer service for more than 30 years, with a clean safety record.
Richard Evanson founded the company in 1979, mainly to transport crew and material for the 1980 film, the “Blue Lagoon”, starring Brooke Shields.
The company now services the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands with resort transfers, scenic flights whilst also offering charter flights to other parts of Fiji.
Mr Evanson (Jr) said they have expanded and have started doing resort transfers all over Fiji.
The goal of the company is to offer more services and to grow its fleet.
“We currently have two aircraft, we have another one that’s due to come in February next year, another aircraft to complete a rebuild by November.
“The aircraft that’s being rebuilt is costing us about $500,000 and close to $400,000 was invested to the new one from overseas.
“As we grow our fleet obviously we have to hire more pilots.”
He highlighted by February next year they should have four seaplanes flying over the designated areas by the company.
“Our business model is basically providing resort transfers, day trips there’s not many people/no one currently offering daytrips to the Yasawa Islands.
“One of our main unique selling point is the fact we have so many flights going to the Yasawa Islands and the Mamanuca Islands which means people coming in are able to have convenient connection transfers.
“We have invested a lot back into our facilities like the private waiting lounge for our VIP clients that was recently opened.”
Earlier this month, it awarded Nemani Rabonu the ‘Employee of the Half Year’, from January 1 to June 30.
The company has come up with this award, to acknowledge staff who have carried out their work to a high standard consistently.
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