Fiji Airways. The remarkable journey continues

From its first steps as a small island carrier to becoming a leading airline of the South Pacific, the journey of Fiji Airways is a story of resilience, innovation and ongoing expansion.

The origin of Fiji Airways goes all the way back to 1947, with the first international operations beginning in 1971. The introduction of the iconic Boeing 747-200 aircraft in the 1980s, marked a new era in trans-Pacific travel. In 2012, the airline returned to its roots and rebranded as Fiji Airways, a symbol of its commitment to showcasing the very best of Fiji and staying true to its rich culture.

Expanding its reach

Fast forward to today. Fiji Airways boasts a modern fleet of Airbus A350s XWB, A330s and Boeing 737 MAX 8’s and operates international and domestic flights, extending across the Pacific, North America, Canada, Asia, and Oceania.

Recently, Fiji Airways expanded its flight services to match the increasing demand from travellers wanting to make the most of this stunning tropical destination.

For Kiwi travellers, Fiji has never been so easy to access, with daily flights from Auckland to Nadi, and a boost in services from Christchurch and Wellington to Nadi to four and three times a week respectively. This added flexibility is especially handy for travellers transferring to the Coral Coast or offshore islands.

On top of that, Fiji Airways also provides Kiwis with a variety of direct flights to North America – one minute you can be lazing on the picture postcard beaches of Fiji, and next, soaking up the iconic landscapes of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Vancouver - a connection that marks another step in Fiji Airways journey.

Check-in direct from the resort

The golden rule of any modern business is finding ways to make the customer experience more streamlined. Which is where Fiji Airways 'Resort Check-In' service comes to the fore.

This service allows passengers to check into their international Fiji Airways flight directly from their resort. It is now available at a number of resorts including the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa, Sheraton Fiji Golf & Beach Resort, InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa, and Hilton Fiji Beach Resort and Spa, and will continue to be rolled out at additional resorts over time.

This innovative feature allows you to savour every last moment of your Fijian holiday, free from the constraints of traditional travel timelines.

Here’s how it works:

At resort check-in, luggage is tagged and safely transported to the airport on behalf of passengers, with boarding passes handed out at the resort. Upon arriving at the airport, travellers can bypass check-in queues and proceed directly to security and immigration. Easy!

It should be noted that, due to additional airport security checks required by the United States Immigration, the Resort Check-In service is unavailable for guests on U.S-bound flights.

Flexibility to ‘Fly Your Way’

Another great example of Fiji Airways customer-first approach is their ‘Fly Your Way’ branded fares. The concept offers four categories for economy travellers - Lite, Value, Comfort, and Plus.

All category options provide a variety of standard amenities, such as in-flight meals and beverages, onboard entertainment, and a carry-on luggage allowance of up to 7kgs.

As you move up the categories, additional benefits come into play – for example checked baggage allowance, flexibility for ticket changes and cancellations, seat selection, priority check-in, priority baggage handling, and many more perks. Passengers simply choose the category they would like to pay for.

7000 Newspapers At Your Fingertips

Inflight entertainment is a key to the in-flight experience and with Fiji Airways collaboration with PressReader, passengers get access to a vast selection of over 7,000 newspapers and magazines from 120 countries in over 60 languages.

The partnership caters to a wide range of reading preferences, satisfying the tastes of both holiday-goers keen on exploring new cultures, and business travellers wanting to keep their finger on the pulse of global news. Access to PressReader begins 48 hours before departure and extends for a full 24 hours after landing.

To delve into this rich pool of content, passengers simply click on the link in their check-in reminder email, browse the catalogue and pre-download their chosen reading material for in-flight enjoyment.

Teaching conservation to kids

"Our Ocean, Our Life" is another unique onboard initiative for younger flyers. The award-winning programme, features a series of activity packs and books, dedicated to teaching the future generation about the importance of preserving and safeguarding Fiji’s delicate marine environment.

The main character, Saboo the turtle, is supported by a team of vibrant marine creatures, each with their own conservation message. Fifi the flying fish champions efforts to reduce plastic use, Skipper the seahorse raises awareness about the harmful effects of climate change, Starry the starfish advocates for reforestation, particularly mangroves, and Okie the octopus encourages the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse & Recycle.

Various Fijian resorts have also adopted conservation programmes aimed at preventing the decline of these majestic creatures, offering tourists hands-on, family-friendly conservation activities. Visitors have the opportunity to contribute to preserving the planet’s marine biodiversity.

Award-winning recognition

Fiji Airways' commitment to excellence extends well beyond the airplane cabin. This dedication is shown by the international recognition the airline continues to receive –a reflection of its commitment to world-class service and passenger satisfaction.

In 2023, Fiji Airways was honoured as a Five Star Major Airline in the APEX Official Airline Ratings™. The accolade recognised their renowned hospitality, the quality of their onboard amenities, and their dedicated team's unparalleled service. The airline has also been acknowledged for prioritising passenger wellbeing and providing excellent services for younger travellers, receiving the Best for Wellbeing Onboard and Best for Kids Kits Onboard awards at the Onboard Hospitality Awards. On top of that, Skytrax World Airline Awards acknowledged the company's extraordinary staff service, ranking them among the Top 10 and Top 20 for World’s Best Airline Cabin Crew in 2022, and also in the Top 20 for World’s Best Airport Services in 2022.

These accolades not only highlight Fiji Airways' quality service but also confirm their official status as an award-winning airline.

A remarkable journey

The tale of Fiji Airways is a remarkable journey. The airline continues to go from strength to strength, and in many way, its helping to reshape the travel in the South Pacific. From fostering sustainable practices to its dedicated services designed to offer guests the ultimate in comfort and convenience, Fiji Airways remains committed to delivering an extraordinary experience to all passengers.