1 February, 2026, 7:52 pm Central - 25°C Rain

Fiji Airways striving for world-class to compete with top airlines

Fiji Airways striving for world-class to compete with top airlines

By Alipate Narawa
04/09/2025

Fiji Airways is striving for excellence and punching above their weight as they try and break their way into "world-class" among the top airlines in the world.

Fiji Airways Chief Customer Officer, Akuila Batiweti says to achieve this, over the last six months, they have had to change everything including their entire menu.

Batiweti says they want guests to see how naturally happy we are as people, and they have chosen three drivers being heartfelt, detail-driven, and positive.

He says you will see all these in their Pacific Rim inspired menu as we are surrounded by some amazing cuisine, not only Fiji, but around the Pacific, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

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He says they get a lot of their microgreens from Taveuni, chocolates from all over Fiji as well as fresh juices.

The Customer Officer says they have this wonderful Vau flower that they put on board made by women in Fiji.

foiji

Batiweti says they fly for Fiji, which means they need to have more Fiji on board, and what they are finding today is that when they put more Fiji on board, it's allowed their crew to actually tell stories, because they identify with what they are serving on board.

He also says they now have soft dining where you can order whatever on the menu no matter the time, for example one could have breakfast for the whole flight.

Fiji Airways Executive Chef, Rafaele Galuvakadua says it is all about using modern techniques to elevate the local dishes that we have.

Galuvakadua says its about having the same experience that you would have in a resort at 35,000 feet in the air, closer to heaven.

He says he has a team of 15 chefs but the army of the kitchen is the Air Terminal Services team.

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