FIJI AIRWAYS: New Airbus A350s to fly to Melbourne and Auckland. Maybe to Seoul and Shanghai?
Under CEO Andre Bilhoen’s leadership, Fiji Airways has worked hard to modernise the fleet. He has led Fiji Airways since 2017. It joined OneWorld as a ‘connect’ partner, a kind or junior partner, in 2018. The membership level is appropriate for this small airline with a fleet of 20 aircraft. The alliance move aligned it with such majors as American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qantas and others. It gave direct economic benefits of integrated traffic from these big boys.
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Servicing Melbourn and Auckland
The ‘Island of Beqa’ is the third out of four A350-900 aircraft joining the Fiji Airways fleet. It will service the Victorian capital twice a week. Other destinations it will service include Auckland, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Vancouver, Canada.
Bilhoen is also keen for Fiji Airways to explore new destinations as it brings in 70% of tourists to the island state. He’s talking about Beijing, Dallas, Seoul, and Shanghai. Closer to home, he hopes to service Noumea, Port Moresby, Raratonga, and more destinations in Australia.
The A350-900
The new aircraft was unveiled today (15 August) in Nadi. The airline’s total fleet now numbers 20, including Airbus A330s, Boeing 737s and smaller aircraft such as ATRs and Otters. This will provide Fiji Airways with the third of an intended total of 4 Airbus A350-900s. The final aircraft is reported to be only 10 or so days away from delivery
On board, the aircraft has 33 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration giving direct aisle access to all. There are a total of 301 Economy seats in a 3-3-3 configuration. These are further divided into 39 Bula Space Seats with 34’’ seat pitch and 262 Economy seats with 31-32’’ seat pitch, all with 6-degree recline and in-seat 12” video screens. USB ports for in-seat power are spread around, with 2 for each of the 3 seats, and entertainment is on demand.
2PAXfly Takeout
The cabins and service on Fiji Airways are a treat, even when island hopping on their Otters and ATRs. These larger aircraft are extremely comfortable in business cabins, and the service is exceptionally friendly and attentive.
Fiji is becoming a stopover destination, especially for Australians travelling to the USA, and for North Americans travelling south, including to Australia.
The airline has a lot going for it, and with what seems like capable management, could go a long way.
I can’t wait to travel with them again, and hopefully, on one of the new A350s in Business.
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