Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen has penned a sternly worded message to all airline staff saying they will no longer have a place in the company if they breach guidelines to contain the Covid 19 pandemic.
In the email obtained by Mai TV – sent this evening to the airlines almost 1500 employees, Viljoen said the alleged actions of some of their colleagues in breaching the self quarantine directives was a “disappointment and embarrassment.”
“I find it hard to understand why anyone would behave so recklessly. Everyone arriving from a layover was told by Health Officials on the need to self-quarantine either at their own homes or at the hotel. These are not normal times. For a week, everyone has been made aware of the rules surrounding self-quarantine,” Viljoen wrote.
The airline boss said he was “disappointed beyond measure.”
He warned: “Fiji Airways will return to the skies once this crisis is over. But if you flaunt Government directives or internal Fiji Airways Safety rules, you will not!”
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in a statement March 25 announcing the country’s 5th confirmed case – blasted the alleged actions of 36 of the airline’s employees who are said to have entertained visitors and kava sessions while in self quarantine.
He said the airline should not hesitate to clean house and replace them with people who take their duty of care seriously.
Viljoen’s full email below:
Dear colleagues,
Just a short while ago, the nation heard about the alleged actions of some of our colleagues, which are now the subject of a Police investigation, for breaching or flaunting the self-quarantine directives of the Fijian Government. I will not say more, except that the Police will continue with their investigations and we will give them every assistance required.
I would like to thank our colleagues who are strictly complying. Your care and responsibility makes us proud.
But I share the disappointment and embarrassment that most members of our Fiji Airways family are feeling today. We have communicated to our teams, on the need for everyone to do their part. We have implemented onboard safety guidelines, provided personal protective equipment, emphasised the need to keep our customers and yourselves safe. We have supported, directed, instructed and briefed those on the frontlines.
When the Lautoka Containment Zone was implemented, we accommodated staff who couldn’t reach their homes in Lautoka at a hotel in Nadi. I find it hard to understand why anyone would behave so recklessly. Everyone arriving from a layover was told by Health Officials on the need to self-quarantine either at their own homes or at the hotel. These are not normal times. For a week, everyone has been made aware of the rules surrounding self-quarantine.
I’m disappointed beyond measure, to hear that these instructions may have been disregarded. I know that these are difficult times, but it applies to everyone, not just a select few. We have colleagues in Lautoka right now in the confinement zone, unable to get to work.
Our focus, my focus, in the past few weeks as this crisis grew, has been to ensure Fiji Airways survives in a world where many other airlines will not. To save jobs when many are already letting people go. Just look around our own region. I have spoken at length every single time about what Fiji Airways means to the nation and its economy.
Colleagues, we have selfless pilots and cabin crew who continue to operate recovery flights to return stranded citizens to their homes and bring Fijians back. We have airport personnel, we have Fiji Link who continue to operate and serve customers. All this good work, all these responsible actions by almost one thousand five hundred members of the Fiji Airways family, are tarnished by the actions of just a handful. Look at the beating that our once-proud standing in the community is taking.
Let me be very clear about this, and reiterate the words of our Prime Minister. Fiji Airways will return to the skies once this crisis is over. But if you flaunt Government directives or internal Fiji Airways Safety rules, you will not! Like any other breaches of Company policies, you will be taken to task. And if found guilty after due process, you will have no place in the National Airline. This includes any breaches in the past two weeks and any in the future.
We have a lot of work to do, starting right now, to restore the faith that the Fijian people and our customers have in Fiji Airways.
We can, and we will do this. I ask you for your help and support as we rise from this. Because we are Stronger Together.
Vinaka
Andre
