SUVA, FIJI — Fiji Airways, the national airline of Fiji, plans to acquire two additional Airbus A350 aircraft in July and August to expand its operations. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad announced the acquisition during a Parliament session, noting that the A350s would provide fuel savings of 15 to 20% when carrying a full load of 360 passengers and up to 30 tonnes of cargo.


Following the addition of the A350s, Fiji Airways' fleet will consist of four Airbus A350s, four Airbus A330s, five Boeing 737-8s, and one Boeing 737-800, making it one of the world's youngest fleets. The airline's domestic and regional services, operated by Fiji Link, utilize a fleet of three ATR 42 and 72 aircraft and four De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters.

Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen stated that the new aircraft would allow for increased capacity on existing routes and further growth of the airline's network. Professor Biman Prasad added that the additional planes would be used to boost flights to Sydney, Auckland, Melbourne, and Brisbane, increasing capacity, meeting customer demand, and offering more cargo space.

Fiji, a country heavily reliant on tourism, is witnessing a strong recovery in passenger traffic at Nadi (NAN), with future travel bookings now exceeding pre-pandemic levels. There has also been a significant increase in North American travelers using Fiji as a transit and stopover point when crossing the Pacific. Fiji Airways recently resumed flights to Tokyo Narita and Hong Kong, with services to Seoul Incheon expected to recommence shortly.