Fiji Airways to land new planes in Aus

Fiji Airways today announced it will replace its existing narrow-body fleet with five brand new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, will offer increased efficiencies and modern in-flight experience for its customers from 2018, with its selection of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to replace its existing B737s fleet. The airline, which currently operates five Boeing 737s on its short and medium-haul journeys to Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Kirribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, will place its first delivery for the aircraft in 2018.

The announcement was made jointly in the Fijian capital, Suva, today by Fiji Airways and the Fijian Government, the airlines major shareholder.

“We’re very pleased to confirm the future of our narrow-body fleet, following the conclusion of an extremely exhaustive procurement and selection process. The improved operating economics and product enhancements were compelling reasons to consider renewing the current Boeing 737 aircraft,” said Mr. Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO.

Australian customers will benefit greatly from the upgrade as the airlines current Boeing 737s operate the Australian routes, along with its A330s. As Fiji Airways flies twice daily from Sydney to Nadi, daily from Melbourne and five times a week from Brisbane, the addition of a Nadi to San Francisco route earlier this year, has also given Australians the option to stay over en route or return from the Golden Gate city.

“We are committed to growing and providing value to our key markets, and this investment in the Boeing 737 MAX 8 will give our customers less cabin noise, enhanced interiors, better lighting and more overhead cabin space. We are confident that this announcement will be very well received by our travel partners and our customers across our global network,” said Mr. Viljoen.

On behalf of the Fijian Government, the Attorney General and Minister for Civil Aviation, the Hon Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, warmly welcomed the announcement.

“The addition of these new state-of-the-art aircraft from 2018 will continue the modernisation of the Fiji Airways fleet that we began three years ago with the delivery of the first wide-bodied A330-200. Now that we are adding new and very efficient Boeing 737 MAX 8s, Fiji Airways will have one of the youngest fleets in the Asia Pacific. Which means not only lower operating costs and a smaller carbon footprint but a level of comfort and service for the travelling public that represents yet another leap forward for our national airline”.

Since re-launching from Air Pacific to Fiji Airways in 2013, Fiji Airways has upgraded its fleet with three new, modern A330-200 aircraft and one A330-300 aircraft, adding a number of enhancements to their in-flight products and services.

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