Fiji Airways is on track to complete its return to commercial flying programme – Viljoen

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen says their flight schedules will be released immediately following an official announcement by Government which outlines border requirements.

While commemorating the airline’s 70th anniversary today, Viljoen says one of the border requirements will undoubtedly be that visitors must be fully vaccinated, a position Fiji Airways strongly supports.

He also says Fiji Airways is on track to complete its return to commercial flying programme, internally termed “Fly Ready”.

Viljoen says the world has changed and there will be a new normal for travel when most countries re-open their borders and they are ready for it.

He says through their Travel Ready programme, Fiji Airways has attained two distinct awards that will give confidence to the customers when commercial flying resumes.

Viljoen says they are the only airline in the Australia-Pacific region, and one of only a handful in the world, to achieve a Skytrax 5-Star COVID Safety rating, as well as the highest “DIAMOND” or Hospital Grade certification for APEX Health Safety powered by Simpliflying.

He says Fiji’s vaccination rollout has helped accelerate the timeline, and a re-opening framework is being finalised in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the COVID Response Management Team comprising of key Permanent Secretaries from across Government.

Fiji Airways 70th anniversary was an occasion marked by staff connecting virtually today from around Fiji and global offices to reminisce the airline’s 70-year history and rally around their commitment to ensure its survival post-pandemic.

Fiji Airways took off on its first flight one 1st September 1951, as founder Harold Gatty’s 7-seater De Havilland Dragon Rapide, piloted by Captain Fred Ladd, took off from the Fiji’s Luvuluvu airstrip (Nausori) to Drasa Airport (near Lautoka).

The airline company says from the bumpy one-hour Dragon Rapide flight 70 years ago to operating 20 jet and turbo-prop aircraft today, Fiji Airways has grown into an international airline with an extended network to 108 destinations globally.

Fiji Airways Chairman, Rajesh Punja says Fiji Airways has consistently broken new ground for 70 years, creating a bridge for Fiji to the world and the world to Fiji.

Punja says COVID has grounded commercial flying temporarily, but cannot wipe their 70-year history.

Addressing staff from their Nadi Head Office, Andre Viljoen said the National Airline draws strength from its 70-year history, to fight the current existential crisis caused by the COVID pandemic.

He says the trailblazing achievements of their founder Harold Gatty created a legacy that has lasted seven consecutive decades.

Viljoen says they must acknowledge the critical and ongoing support they have had from the Fijian Government, especially the Prime Minister and Line Minister the Attorney General.