Fiji and Vanuatu are moving toward talks on how their upper airspace is managed and how the associated revenues are shared, after Port Vila signaled a push to establish a Commercial Upper Airspace Management Policy.
The plan, if approved, would see a Council of Ministers paper authorizing negotiations with Fiji. A multi-agency taskforce in Vanuatu would lead the discussions should the government green-light the talks.
Today, Fiji receives roughly 92% of the revenue generated from aircraft transiting Vanuatu’s upper airspace, which sits within Fiji’s Flight Information Region. About 6,000 to 6,500 aircraft pass through Vanuatu’s airspace each year. In 2017, Vanuatu earned around 50 million vatu, equating to about 940,000 Fiji dollars.
Vanuatu has acknowledged that it lacks the infrastructure and human resources to independently manage its upper airspace. The International Civil Aviation Organization has previously cautioned against fragmenting existing FIRs into smaller segments. Port Vila’s renegotiation push aims to increase its share of airspace revenue and expand its role in management, a move that could affect Fiji’s long-standing control over the sector.
Context and potential implications:
– If talks succeed, Vanuatu could gain greater influence and a larger share of the revenue from airspace transit, potentially reshaping the financial dynamics of Pacific airspace governance.
– Fiji’s FIR currently covers much of the upper airspace traffic in the region, and any shift would need careful alignment with ICAO guidelines to avoid inefficiencies or fragmentation.
– The broader Pacific aviation landscape has seen ongoing discussions about regional cooperation, open skies concepts, and master planning for aviation infrastructure, underscoring a trend toward more coordinated airspace governance in the region.
Additional value and perspective:
– The discussions come at a time when regional aviation policy is under scrutiny, with governments weighing open skies arrangements and strategic master plans to boost connectivity, tourism, and economic resilience.
– A positive outcome could enhance regional collaboration, improve air service efficiency, and support growth in tourism and trade across Fiji, Vanuatu, and neighboring states.
Summary: Fiji and Vanuatu are initiating negotiations over who manages and benefits from shared upper airspace, with Port Vila seeking a greater revenue share and management role. The move reflects broader regional conversations about open skies and coordinated airspace governance, while ICAO cautions about fragmentation. If successful, the talks could strengthen Pacific cooperation and aviation connectivity.
Overall tone: Neutral with a constructive, hopeful outlook for greater regional collaboration in airspace management.
Leave a comment