Thousands of jobs and the futures of national airlines across the Pacific are going to depend on whether New Zealand and Australia can reopen their borders, says the Secretary General of the body representing airlines in the region.
George Faktaufon said Pacific airlines are not going to be able to count on national government support for handouts to keep them afloat, and the clock is already ticking for some airlines.
"It's very hard to plan for something that you are not quite sure when it's going to happen, because we have always planned for something that is certain, but the plan is depending on when Australia and New Zealand are opening up," he said.