Andre Viljoen to step down as Fiji Airways MD and CEO effective October 2025

Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Andre Viljoen will be stepping down from his role effective October 2025.

An extensive search will be conducted to identify the most suitable candidate for the MD and CEO role.

The position will be advertised internally, nationally, and internationally.

All candidates who meet the clearly defined criteria outlined in the upcoming advertisement and job description will be considered.

Fiji Airways Chairperson, Nalin Patel says Viljoen has accepted the position of CEO at Air Mauritius and will be returning home after a decade of exceptional leadership in Fiji.

Patel says on behalf of the Board and the entire Fiji Airways Group, he expresses their heartfelt gratitude to Viljoen for his outstanding leadership over the past 10 years.

He says under his stewardship, Fiji Airways has undergone a remarkable transformation: the airline’s SKYTRAX Rating improved to 4 Stars, with its global ranking soaring from 102nd in 2015 to an impressive 14th in 2024, Fiji Airways was awarded ‘Best Airline in Australia/Pacific’ for two consecutive years and earned the APEX 5 Star Major Airline rating for three years running, the fleet has doubled in size, from 12 aircraft in 2015 to 24 today, including four new generation Airbus A350s, widely recognised as among the most modern and fuel efficient commercial aircraft in the world, the annual revenue has grown significantly, from $815.3 million in 2015 to $1.9 billion in 2024.

Among his many accomplishments, Viljoen also led the development of the world class Aviation Academy, now home to four state-of-the-art full-flight simulators.

Patel says this initiative has not only enhanced cost efficiency but also raised the standard of pilot training by supporting more Fijians to become captains and attracting major third-party clients such as Air Tahiti, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.

He says during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Viljoen’s visionary ‘Future-Fit Ready Strategy’ ensured the airline’s survival and rapid recovery once borders reopened.

Fiji Airways operated 523 repatriation flights and transported 17,825 tonnes of freight when other airlines ceased operations.

Fiji Airways were the first to resume services when the borders reopened in Australia and New Zealand.

This positioned Fiji Airways for exceptional post-COVID growth, resulting in record passenger numbers and financial performance in 2023.

To ensure continuity, Viljoen will remain on the Board of Directors after his transition.

Patel says there is no conflict of interest, as Fiji Airways and Air Mauritius serve different markets.