Airline mulls new strategy

Qantas-backed Fiji Airways will consider new destinations and closer alliances with other airlines as part of a five-year plan to be devised under the reins of a new chief executive.

Fjii's national flag carrier said it was open to expanding its alliance with Qantas from a basic interline agreement to a code-share deal.

The Fijian government owns 51 per cent of the airline, while Qantas has 46 per cent. The relationship between the two hit a low last year when Qantas removed its four representatives from the airline's board in response to the Fiji government making clear its intention to take "absolute control".

Chief executive Stefan Pichler said the airline would consider new routes. But it was unlikely to make major changes in the medium term to capacity on routes between Australia and Fiji. The airline has 26 flights a week to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

"We don't want to have a market share battle. The market is pretty much in a good state and a good place for all competitors there and we don't necessarily want to shake it up," he said.