Fiji Airports CEO says no delays to Labasa Airport closure

By Andrew Curran.

Fiji Airports have denied claims that they have postponed the six-week closure of Labasa Airport (LBS). The airport operator says that it intends to undertake infrastructure upgrades as planned and the airport will close between February 16 and March 27, 2026.

The Fiji Times reported over the weekend that the closure was likely to be delayed while a land use plan was being completed. The report cited iTaukei Land Trust Board CEO Solomoni Nata.

“The project is on hold,” Nata told the newspaper.

Labasa Airport closure controversial for some

The temporary closure of Labasa Airport, which was flagged last year, has proved controversial with some locals. A few local businesses say their trade will suffer and that they will have difficulties getting supplies in. Some local residents say the closure will make it harder to access the capital, Suva. Added to the mix, there is ongoing friction with local landowners.

Nata claims a land use plan being carried out by the Asian Development Bank for the Ministry of Tourism remains unfinished and the airport’s closure cannot proceed until this is done.

In response, Fiji Airports CEO Mesake Nawari said the mid-February temporary closure date was unchanged.

Labasa Airport is a domestic airport that handles inter-island flights. It is in Macuata Province, in the northeastern part of Vanua Levu, the second-largest Fijian island. The airport is served by FijiLink from Nadi (NAN) and Suva (SUV) and Northern Air from Suva.

Alongside other work, the six-week closure will see the 1,073 metre runway strengthened and a new terminal built. Nawari said he was aware the airport closure could create problems for locals.

“These runway upgrades are critical to addressing existing structural issues and ensuring ongoing compliance with international aviation safety standards,” he said. “This is an investment in the future of the Northern Division.”

Extra flights to Savusavu Airport

The terminal rebuild will see the existing 1973-era building replaced with a modern single story 1,000 square metre facility featuring facilities such as a bag carousel and air conditioning.

Fiji Airports has worked with Fiji Airways (operator of FijiLink) and Northern Air to provide additional flights to Savusavu Airport (SVU) (also located on Vanua Levu). FijiLink is adding an additional 44 flights to Savusavu over the six weeks while Northern Air is operating double daily flights.

The Labasa Airport upgrade is part of Fiji’s long-term aviation infrastructure improvement programme. The runway strengthening project is funded under the Fiji Tourism Development Program with assistance from the World Bank.

Photo: AI-Generated.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com