BY STEVE JONES
From Travel Weekly
Fiji Airways acting chief executive, Aubrey Swift, will be happy to do “whatever is asked” of him by the airline as the board ponders who will lead the airline into its new era.
Mr Swift joined Air Pacific 11 months ago as chief commercial officer before being handed the acting chief executive role in early June as replacement for Dave Pflieger.
Mr Swift declined to confirm whether he had officially applied for the job but said he would be content just to be part of this “wonderful opportunity”.
“The board will pick the right guy for the job,” Mr Swift told Travel Today.
“I would be quite happy to do the job but the board will pick who they think is the right person.
“I am happy to do whatever role Fiji Airways want me to do. I joined 11 months ago and what sold me was the wonderful opportunity here.
“The Fijians are lovely, proud people and there is something really special we could do here so I want to part of that and to be involved in that.
“I’ll take whatever role they want me to do.”
Board’s decision
Mr Swift predicted the board would make a decision by the end of July.
Prior to joining Air Pacific, which officially rebranded to Fiji Airways last week, Mr Swift worked as a consultant after senior roles with British Airways in Europe and Virgin Blue in Australia.
Fiji Airways will ramp up Sydney frequencies to 14 weekly, rising to 17 in peak periods.
Los Angeles flights will rise from four to six from before going daily in November when its third A330 arrives.