Fiji Airways for the first time ever has converted a Fiji Link ATR 72-600 aircraft to a freighter configuration to operate a cargo trip to Port Villa.
The freighter service carried 3.8 tonnes of cargo from Nadi to Port Vila and 1.6 tonnes on the return sector on Sunday.
This included medical supplies, while the outbound carried a number of consolidated items, including coffee and mail.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen says Fiji Airways remains committed to operating freight services to maintain essential supply lines between Fiji and its key markets.
He says they have been exploring ways to similarly assist Fiji’s regional neighbours.
Viljoen says they were able to reconfigure the aircraft with the approval of aircraft manufacturer ATR, The Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji and the relevant governments.
Reconfiguration works included removal of all passenger seats from the aircraft.
Viljoen says this was done in line with manufacturer specifications by Fiji Airways’ Engineering at the airline’s Hangar facilities in Nadi.
He says the converted ATR 72-600 freighter allows for carriage of up to 8 tonnes of cargo, while a normal passenger ATR can only cater for up to 1.7 tonnes.
