Fiji has concluded bilateral negotiations with the United States of America on a new open skies Air Service Agreement (ASA) that will see national airline Fiji Airways add a new Nadi to Dallas, Fort Worth International Airport, Texas route to its flying schedules.
However, official signatures to formalise the new agreement have yet to commence.
This was revealed in papers filed by Fiji Airways in its application to the US Department of Transportation (DOT), dated July 11, 2024, for an exemption from 49USCode Chapter 41301 to allow it to fly the Nadi-Dallas route.
Among reasons it listed to support its application, Fiji Airways referred to “the recently concluded negotiations on the new ASA”.
“The authority requested herein is consistent with the principles outlined by the governments of the Republic of Fiji and the United States of America during recently concluded negotiations on a new, liberalised Air Services Agreement (the Agreement).
“Fiji Airways understands that the Agreement embodies the principles of an Open Skies Agreement. Fiji Airways further understands that while the Agreement is finalised and pending entry into force, Fiji and the United States have agreed to apply the Agreement’s Open Skies principles on the basis of comity and reciprocity through the issuance of a Memorandum of Consultations (MOC).
“The MOC is currently in the signature process for both parties.”
A new Open Skies ASA with the US has been work-in-progress for some time for Fiji Airways, with chief executive officer Andre Viljoen publicly identifying North America as “our future”.
In its application to the US DOT, the national airline revealed its recent acquisition of a new 334-seat Airbus A350-900 that it plans to use to service the new route, which, at 6625 miles, will be its longest to fly.
“Fiji Airways intends to operate three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays beginning as soon as all required government approvals are received,” it stated.
