The runway upgrade at Rotuma Airport has been completed ahead of schedule. Mesake Nawari, the Chief Executive of Fiji Airports, praised the contractors, Flame Tree Development (Fiji) Pte Ltd, for their excellent work in enhancing the runway with crucial safety features.
Recently, the Fiji Airports projects team visited Rotuma to observe the project’s completion and receive the official handover from the contractors. Nawari emphasized the importance of the maintenance work for ongoing operations and expressed gratitude to the contractors for completing it on time. He also thanked customers and stakeholders for their support during the two-week maintenance period, noting that bi-weekly flight operations were not affected.
The upgrade included landslip remediation, resealing the runway shoulder, and upgrading the fence. Nawari mentioned that the project timeline was developed in consultation with stakeholders before starting. Earlier this year, Fiji Airports announced a $10 million investment to carry out runway maintenance projects at five of its 14 outer island stations, including Labasa, Rotuma, Savusavu, Lakeba, and Matei (Taveuni).
Nawari reiterated the company’s commitment to maintaining outer island airports and stated that Fiji Airports will continue discussions with the government to secure funding for further improvements at these facilities. He confirmed that the scheduled maintenance at the five airports is fully financed by Fiji Airports.
Rotuma Island Council Chairman Gagaj Manav expressed gratitude to Fiji Airports and the contractors for their efforts on the runway. He acknowledged the work carried out and met with the team responsible for the upgrades. Following this, the council and the seven district chiefs were given a tour of the runway, apron, and taxiway, along with an introduction to airport operations and business.