Domestic airline Fiji Link has established itself as the primary launchpad for local aviation talent, propelling a vital manpower pipeline into parent company Fiji Airways as it celebrates a milestone 12 years in the skies.
Data obtained by The Fiji Times from the airline revealed its role had evolved beyond basic island connectivity and has transformed the domestic carrier into a structured corporate incubator.
On the occasion of the airline’s 12th anniversary, this newspaper has established that 18 local pilots were currently moving through the advanced career pathways within the Fiji Airways group.
Fiji Link executive manager Operations Peter Bale said over the past 24 months, six Fiji Link technical crew members had transitioned directly into Fiji Airways’ widebody international jet operations.
He said 12 Fiji Link trainee First Officers were also currently serving two-year secondments as Cruise Relief pilots.
And showing the cyclical nature of this pipeline, he added two pilots had recently retuned to Fiji Link having completed their Cruise Relief secondments, and were in the final stages of completing their type ratings as fully-fledged First Officers.
“These transitions reflect the structured career progression pathways defined for pilots within the Fiji Airways group and demonstrate the group’s commitment to developing local aviation professionals from the ground up, and as a genuine launchpad for Fijian aviation careers – a point of pride for the airline and the broader industry,” Mr Bale told The Fiji Times in an email interview.
This internal progression is backed by an influx of new talent at the entry-level stage.
Mr Bale said the airline continued to work closely with its parent company – Fiji Airways, and the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy to support the TSLS-funded commercial pilot scholarship program.
“At present, 59 sponsored scholarship cadets are training through local flying schools, and upon completion, will commence their airline careers through Fiji Link, strengthening the aviation talent pipeline across the group,” he said.
Meanwhile, since rebranding as Fiji Link in 2014 from Sunflower Airlines in 1980, then to Pacific Sun before Air Pacific acquired it in 2007, the airline has carried more than 3.3 million passengers, which Mr Bale said underscored the airline’s enduring role as a vital connector of communities across Fiji and the Pacific region.
Fiji Link today operates scheduled services to 15 destinations: 11 domestic – Nadi, Suva, Labasa, Taveuni, Savusavu, Kadavu, Rotuma, Lakeba, Vanua Balavu, Cicia and Koro; and four regional ports – Funafuti in Tuvalu, Port Vila in Vanuatu, and Tongatapu and Vava’u in Tonga.
Services to Apia in Samoa and Noumea will commence on July 4 and September 22 this year, respectively.
