Pacific Island Air

Pacific Island Air is a Fiji-based air charter and island-transfer operator associated with Nadi International Airport. The business began in 1999 as Pacific Island Seaplanes, founded by Larry “Dusty” Simon. Its initial fleet comprised two de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver aircraft and a Britten-Norman Islander, reflecting an operating model designed for Fiji’s dispersed islands, resort destinations and limited ground connections rather than conventional scheduled airline networks. In 2013, Pacific Island Seaplanes was acquired by GCH Aviation, a Christchurch, New Zealand-based aviation group. GCH combined the acquired seaplane operation with its existing Helicopters (Fiji) business, creating the Pacific Island Air brand. The resulting operation brought together fixed-wing aircraft, seaplanes and helicopters for passenger transfers, sightseeing, emergency missions and customized charter work. The company’s principal commercial role has been to connect visitors and residents with island resorts that are difficult or time-consuming to reach by road or conventional airline service. It has offered daily transfers to resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups, together with charter services from Nadi to destinations including Mana Island and Malololailai. Helicopter and seaplane operations also support scenic flights and direct resort transfers, while fixed-wing Britten-Norman Islander aircraft have been used for services involving small island airfields and short-haul charter requirements. Beyond tourism, Pacific Island Air’s stated activities have included air ambulance and emergency medical flights to and from inhabited islands across Fiji. It has also provided tailored charter services for tourists, local companies and Fijian government agencies. The destination footprint described for the operator includes resorts and communities on the Coral Coast, as well as places such as Savusavu, Taveuni, Suva, Levuka, Wakaya, Vatulele, Kadavu, Moala, Gau, Koro, Vanua Balavu, Lakeba, Cicia and Labasa. The company’s operating infrastructure has centered on a headquarters and hangar at the CAAF Compound on London Avenue in Namaka, near Nadi, with passenger check-in at the domestic terminal of Nadi International Airport. Additional transfer or landing facilities have included a dedicated site at Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island and a floating pontoon near Port Denarau Marina. Reference material describes a workforce of more than 50 people covering management, administration, engineering, flight operations, reservations, check-in and baggage handling. Pacific Island Air is best understood as a specialist aviation-services brand serving Fiji’s tourism, inter-island mobility and emergency-response needs. The available reference material describes its historical formation and services but does not establish the company’s present operating status, current ownership structure beyond its association with GCH Aviation, or a current official website. Those points therefore remain unconfirmed in this entry.

Pacific Island Air traces its origins to Pacific Island Seaplanes, an air charter company established in Fiji in 1999 by Larry “Dusty” Simon. The original operation was built around aircraft suited to Fiji’s island geography, including two de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver aircraft and a Britten-Norman Islander. Rather than operating as a broad scheduled carrier, the company concentrated on charter flying, resort access and transportation between islands and coastal locations. The business changed ownership in 2013 when it was acquired by GCH Aviation, an aviation group based in Christchurch, New Zealand. GCH already operated Helicopters (Fiji), and merged that operation with Pacific Island Seaplanes. The combined business adopted the Pacific Island Air name, bringing seaplane, helicopter and fixed-wing capabilities under one Fiji-focused charter brand. After the combination, Pacific Island Air’s service proposition covered daily transfers to resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups, charter flights from Nadi’s domestic airport to locations such as Mana Island and Malololailai, and scenic flights departing from the Nadi area. The company also described the ability to arrange direct charter transfers from Nadi International Airport to resorts around Fiji. Its listed destinations and service points extended well beyond the main tourist corridors, including the Coral Coast, Royal Davui, Nanuku, Savusavu, Taveuni, Suva, Levuka, Wakaya, Vatulele, Kadavu, Moala, Gau, Koro, Vanua Balavu, Lakeba, Cicia and Labasa. The operator’s role was not limited to leisure travel. Pacific Island Air also provided air ambulance and emergency medical flights to and from Fiji’s inhabited islands, a function particularly relevant in an archipelago where distance, weather and limited transport infrastructure can restrict access to medical facilities. Custom charters were available for tourists, local businesses and government agencies, extending the company’s work into corporate, public-sector and special-mission aviation. Its main headquarters and hangar were described as being at the CAAF Compound on London Avenue in Namaka, Fiji. Passenger processing was based at the domestic terminal of Nadi International Airport, supplemented by a dedicated transfer location at Sheraton Fiji Resort on Denarau Island and a floating pontoon near Port Denarau Marina. The operation employed more than 50 people across management, administration, engineering, flight crew, reservations, check-in and baggage handling. The supplied reference material does not provide a verified current fleet, leadership list, financial information, official website address or definitive evidence of whether the brand remains active. The historical record therefore supports a clear account of its formation, 2013 consolidation and Fiji charter-services model, but not an authoritative description of its present-day operations.

• 2013

  Acquisition and formation of Pacific Island Air

  [1]Pacific Island Airen.wikipedia.org

  GCH Aviation acquired Pacific Island Seaplanes and merged it with Helicopters (Fiji), forming Pacific Island Air.

• 1999

  Pacific Island Seaplanes established

  [1]Pacific Island Airen.wikipedia.org

  Larry “Dusty” Simon founded the Fiji air charter business that later became the basis of Pacific Island Air.

A specialist Fiji aviation operator focused on resort connectivity, inter-island charter travel, scenic flights and urgent air access to remote communities.

• Passenger air transport

  Island resort transfers

  Daily or arranged transfers connecting Nadi and other Fiji access points with resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa island groups. The service uses the operator’s seaplane and helicopter capabilities to reach destinations where conventional airport or road access is limited.

• Air charter

  Fixed-wing charter flights

  Charter operations using Britten-Norman Islander aircraft for destinations including Mana Island and Malololailai. The six-seat aircraft support short-haul island mobility, resort transfers and customized travel rather than a conventional large-airline schedule.

• Aerial transport and sightseeing

  Seaplane and helicopter services

  Aircraft and helicopter services designed for direct resort access, inter-island movement and scenic flying. These services can depart from Nadi-area facilities, including resort and marina transfer points, and are tailored to Fiji’s coastal and island geography.

• Medical aviation

  Air ambulance and emergency flights

  Emergency medical and air ambulance flights to and from inhabited islands in Fiji. The offering addresses urgent transport requirements where regular surface or commercial connections may not provide timely access to medical care.

• Specialized air charter

  Custom charter services

  Bespoke flights arranged for tourists, local businesses and Fijian government agencies. The service portfolio is intended to accommodate special itineraries, remote destinations and mission-specific travel requirements across Fiji.

• 2013

  Integration with GCH Aviation’s Helicopters (Fiji) operationM&A

  Background

  GCH Aviation acquired Pacific Island Seaplanes while already operating Helicopters (Fiji), creating an opportunity to combine complementary fixed-wing, seaplane and helicopter capabilities in Fiji.

  Action taken

  The acquired seaplane business was merged with Helicopters (Fiji) and operated under the Pacific Island Air name.

  Aftermath

  The transaction produced a broader charter-services platform covering resort transfers, scenic flights, emergency aviation and customized charters.

  Source

1. 1Pacific Island Airen.wikipedia.org