The Association of South Pacific Airlines has said that a dispute between the national airlines of Solomon Islands and Fiji can only be resolved through the intervention of the prime ministers of both countries.
The dispute flared earlier this month when the Solomon Islands Civil Aviation Authority refused a request from Fiji Airways for extra flights to Honiara. All flights between the two countries have since been suspended.
Fiji has since prevented Papua New Guinea's national airline Air Niugini from picking up Solomon Airlines passengers at Nadi airport under a code-sharing deal.
Fiji's Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told local media: "We regret the inconvenience to the travelling public but this action was triggered by Solomon Islands and the responsibility lies with Honiara to make the first move."
George Faktaufon, secretary-general of the Association of South Pacific Airlines, says currently "no-one is talking. There needs to be some dialogue between the two leaders. The direction must come from the top."
Faktaufon said the Association is powerless in the dispute: "We have no control over the bilaterals and we have no real control over what the airlines do. The resolution rests entirely on the airlines and the governments.