The parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs has praised the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji (CAAF) for maintaining robust safety oversight but warned that persistent staffing and operational constraints could limit the regulator’s ability to meet future demands as the aviation sector grows.
In its review of CAAF’s 2024 Annual Report, tabled in Parliament this month, the Committee noted that the authority has implemented 76 percent of its obligations under the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) Universal Safety Oversight Audit Programme (USOAP). Members welcomed the recent establishment of an ICAO office in Nadi, describing it as a “significant step” towards positioning Fiji as a regional aviation hub and strengthening technical support and oversight capacity in the Pacific.
The Committee also acknowledged CAAF’s active regulatory work, including ongoing surveillance, audits and inspections across airlines, aerodromes and aviation security entities. The authority has certified 22 aerodromes nationwide — 15 managed by government and seven operated privately — a portfolio the Committee said requires sustained monitoring to ensure consistent compliance with safety standards.
However, the review highlighted serious human resource challenges. The Committee raised concerns about CAAF’s ability to attract and retain qualified aviation professionals and urged the authority to review its remuneration packages to remain competitive with private-sector salaries. Earlier this year CAAF’s Executive Manager for Standards and Compliance, Sereima Bolanavatu, told Parliament the authority was operating short of full capacity, citing the high cost of training and a trend of experienced staff moving to better-paid private roles. The Committee recommended more proactive engagement with the Government to secure the resources needed to fill critical vacancies.
Operational and asset issues were also flagged. The Committee noted that land CAAF acquired at Wailoaloa remains partly occupied by tenants and that the dispute is now before the courts. On financing, the report reiterated that CAAF receives $5 from each passenger departure tax and recommended the authority seek stronger engagement with Government to explore adjustments to that funding stream to support regulatory functions.
Among policy recommendations, the Committee called for accelerated consolidation of multiple aviation statutes into a single, modern legal framework aligned with ICAO standards, and for closer monitoring of unregistered aerodromes. The Committee argued that a streamlined regulatory framework would improve transparency, enforcement and the regulator’s ability to meet international obligations.
The review comes against a background of sustained scrutiny of Fiji’s aviation ecosystem. In recent months Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka raised concerns about the accreditation of a domestic training provider, underlining the importance of accredited training for maintaining safety standards. Previous calls for independent probes into aspects of the regulator’s performance have kept attention on governance, training and capacity issues.
The Committee concluded by stressing the need to maintain current safety standards while strengthening CAAF’s capacity to support the sector’s recovery and growth. It urged CAAF and the Government to act on the recommendations as part of a coordinated effort to bolster Fiji’s standing and reliability as a regional aviation centre.