Solar energy sources – EFL estimates $200m CAPEX; talking to some IPP proponents

EARLIER this month, the operator and manager of the country’s airport facilities – Fiji Airports, officially signed a landmark agreement with Collins Aerospace, Singapore – the subsidiary of American technology company Collins Aerospace, to modernise passenger processing and infrastructure at Nadi International Airport.

This $17.5million agreement marked a major leap in Fiji Airport’s commitment to deliver world-class and technology-driven services.

Under the contract, with a project delivery timeline of seven months, Collins Aerospace will deliver a comprehensive suite of technological solutions, including biometric processing, E-gates, and streamline passenger identification to enable faster and more secure processing.

The deal was formalised at the Fiji Airports headquarters in Nadi on June 12 by Fiji Airports Chief Executive Officer Mesake Nawari and Collins Aerospace Global Director of Business Development – Airports Steve Robinson.

“This important partnership signifies our commitment to delivering a world-class airport experience to all travellers,” Mr Nawari said.

“Through this project, we are integrating cutting-edge technologies that will significantly enhance airport operations, streamline passenger journeys and position Nadi International Airport for future growth,” he said.

Mr Robinson said this project was about innovating and collaborating on the most impactful initiatives in aerospace.

“We’re proud to work alongside Fiji Airports to help deliver a seamless, data-driven and passenger-centric experience,” the visiting executive said.

“It reflects our shared commitment to creating smarter airports for the future.”

Digital airport transformation
According to Fiji Airports, the digital airport transformation will be delivered in two strategic stages.
Stage one scheduled for 2026 will involve the implementation of core airport systems, including: Common Use Passenger Processing System (CUPPS), Common Use Self-Service kiosks (CUSS), Airline Boarding Data (ABD), Airport Operational Database (AODB), and the Flight Information Display System (FIDS).
These systems will be hosted in fully redundant data centres, connected via secure, high-speed networks across Fiji’s key international airports.
Stage 2 is scheduled for 2028 – and it will cover the deployment of advanced biometric processing technologies: Biometric-enabled self-bag drop units, facial recognition e-gates at boarding and immigration, seamless integration with Fiji’s border control systems and real-time data analytics for smarter airport management.
With those technological systems in place, passengers will benefit from faster check-in via biometric kiosks, bag drop in under 30 seconds, facial recognition at e-gates for boarding and immigration, and reduced wait times and enhanced security.

Coordinated implementation
During the initial phase of planning, Fiji Airports and Collins Aerospace had closely engaged with key airport stakeholders, including airlines and the immigration department.
Mr Nawari said they would continue this collaborative approach throughout the project’s delivery to ensure a smooth and coordinated implementation.
He said the stakeholders had also been involved in the selection of Collins Aerospace and in preliminary discussions.
Collins Aerospace’s Singapore location is the parent company’s regional headquarters for Asia Pacific that provides maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, as well as manufacturing, sales and marketing.
Mr Nawari said the project would include advanced systems integration with the country’s border control systems.
He said that would enhance security and data flow, and back-end data analytics solutions, which would enable full operational visibility, real time tracking, and data-driven decision-making to support future airport growth.
“The project will also reduce queue times and improve the overall travel experience, encouraging higher passenger satisfaction and increased commercial spend.
“The commissioning for stage one is planned for December 2025, with a strong focus on minimising operational disruptions during the transition phase.”

SITA
Mr Nawari said Fiji Airports had also extended its existing SITA support contract to mitigate operational risks during the technology transition, ensuring continuity and minimal disruptions for travellers and airline partners.
He said this initiative aligned with their vision – ‘To be the world-class aviation hub for the Blue Pacific’, enhancing connectivity, supporting tourism growth, and boosting the broader Fijian economy.
“By modernising its passenger processing and integrating real-time, scalable technologies, Nadi International Airport is setting a new benchmark for travel in the Pacific region.”
SITA – short for Société Internationale de Télécommunications Aéronautiques that translates to International Society of Aeronautical Telecommunications – is a multinational information technology company that specialises in providing information technology and telecommunications services to the aviation community.
Its scope of responsibilities is to help drive the digital shift needed, working with airline, airport, aircraft, government and other customers across the global air transport community.

Note: This article was first published on the print version of the Fiji Times dated June 24, 2025