"Why would Emirates be interested in Fiji? Don't get me wrong these guys are a nice bunch [airline] but its a considerable step down from Air NZ to Air Fiji?"
maybe they want to establish Air Pac as their training sub (heck, isn't 1/5th of current Emirates pilots from Air Pac??).
Also, I think you meant Air Pac rather than Air Fiji right?
All Air Fiji has isabout 5 Y12 Harbins and a sprinkling of EMB110s and an Islander
*edit*
here's 'justification' for my statement (made up ofcourse) above:
TWO weeks ago Air Pacific lost two more of its local pilots, bringing to 27 the number of pilots who have winged themselves to destinations in the Persian Gulf.
They were captains of Boeing 737-800 series aircraft who had served the airline for a little more than a decade. The buzz in the industry right now is that the Fijian cockpit entourage in the Middle East will be ascending in the coming months as more airmen from our national carrier throttle away to rich Arab states. Of interest to followers of the flight brigade is the pending departure of one of the airlines pride, a local who peers claim may possibly be the youngest pilot to attain captaincy in the Asia-Pacific region.
According to statistics, the number of departed pilots represent close to 30 per cent of Air Pacifics pilot crew. In recent months there has been talk about a possible pilot shortage. With airlines the world over reporting a pilot shortage crisis, many theories and rumours have sprouted linking flight delays and cancellations to the exodus of some of Air Pacifics more experienced pilots. There are added concerns that locals are reluctantly leaving our shores because of disparities in the work conditions of locals and expatriates.
Whatever the reason, the question that begs to be answered is: Will the exodus of pilots pose a problem? Do we have a shortage or not? Some believe it is a simple matter of supply and demand.
About 19 of the locals have joined the Emirates and interviews with existing pilots are continuing. Air Pacific has continued to maintain its steady supply of expatriate leased pilots, a sure sign that the number of quality local pilots has begun to draw thin. Obviously, the locals are leaving for more fertile grounds and are finding jobs there more palatable with the offer of lucrative benefits and packages.
Taken from the fiji times here -->
Pilots target better future - Fiji Times Online