Lulutai Airlines is still not a public enterprise, despite government claims it was approved for transition last November.
Minister for Public Enterprises Piveni Piukala confirmed at government press conference held last week that the national airline remains registered as a limited liability company.
This contradicts a November 2024 announcement by former Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, then chairman of the airline, who stated Cabinet had approved the airline’s transition into a public enterprise last November.
“The airline is still with the board and has not yet been moved to public enterprises,” Piukala said during the press conference.
He revealed that the Attorney General advised the Eke Cabinet that the original legal documents submitted for His Majesty’s approval contained errors. As a result, the process must now start again.
Current Prime Minister Dr Aisake Eke, while in Opposition, had repeatedly argued that Lulutai’s registration as a private company violates the law. He said the law requires public enterprises to be reclassified within one year of establishment.
Dr Eke warned that while Lulutai remains a private entity, Parliament and taxpayers cannot access key operational and financial information.
The government has not provided a timeline for when corrected documents will be submitted. The transition remains on hold.
