As the Pacific Islands Forum Leadership Meeting got underway in Koror on Monday, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. said the economies of Pacific nations could be improved by building a regional airline alliance.
The high cost and limited availability of flights throughout the Western Pacific constrain economic development in the islands, but Whipps said the alliance could provide a solution.
He noted that large airlines all over the world have created alliances, but Pacific carriers are not part of those partnerships.
He pointed to Air Niugini, Solomon Airlines, Fiji Airways and Nauru Airlines as carriers that could participate.
“Why don’t we have a One Pacific Alliance?” he asked. “You know, these things are things we have to work together on.”
As leader of the host country, Whipps serves as chair of the forum. Before a gathering of leaders from Smaller Island States on Monday, Whipps noted the theme for the forum was Belau, or B.E.L.A.U – Building Economies: Life, Action. Unity.
“Building stronger economies is not an end in itself - it must elevate the livelihoods of our people, create tangible and sustainable opportunities for our economies, and unite us in our ongoing efforts to deepen regionalism through integration,” he said.
The Smaller Island States group agreed to work together on four priority areas: identifying and securing reliable and affordable air and sea transport, fisheries development, strengthening regional procurement and health workforce mechanisms, and access to climate change finance.
