Fiji Airways has denied reports that the former SriLankan Airlines CEO Peter Hill has been appointed as the chief executive of Fiji’s national carrier.

According to a report by UK tabloid the Daily Mirror, SriLankan Airlines chairman Ajith Dias was quoted as saying Hill was leaving because he was offered the Fiji Airways managing director and CEO role.

According to Fiji Airways manager public relations Shane Hussein, the announcement was premature and should not be taken as official.

“The Board is seeing three shortlisted candidates this weekend,” was the official response from the national carrier. Fiji Airways could not confirm if Hill was one of the shortlisted candidates for the position. 

The airline announced late last year that its former CEO, Stefan Pichler, was leaving to join Air Berlin, after just one year with the carrier.