Fiji Airways has suspended 95 per cent of its international flight routes.
This includes all international flights until the end of May, with the exception of twice-weekly services between Singapore and Nadi.
Civil Aviation Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the suspension was because of the unprecedented impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, adding the move was the most stringent scale back in the airline’s 68-year history.
Fiji Link’s domestic services will continue and might be adjusted depending on the demand, he said.
“To continue to assist exporters and importers, Fiji Airways is actively seeking advance commitments to facilitate weekly freight service flights from Nadi-Los Angeles, Nadi-Sydney and Nadi-Auckland,” he said.
Those wishing to take advantage of this service can contact the national airline.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji Airways would operate a Nadi-Sydney return service today and tomorrow before suspending the service thereafter.
The Nadi-Los Angeles return services will operate daily until Sunday and will be suspended after the last Los Angeles-Nadi flight returns on Tuesday.
The last return Auckland-Nadi service will leave tomorrow, while the final South Pacific return services between Nadi or Suva and Nuku’alofa, Honiara and Funafuti will also operate today.
The final Nadi–Honolulu flight will leave tomorrow and return on Monday.
Return services between Nadi and Brisbane, Melbourne, Christchurch, Wellington, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Narita), Apia, Tarawa, Christmas Island (Kiritimati), Vava’u, San Francisco are suspended immediately, while direct return services between Suva and Sydney, Auckland and Port Vila, along with services between Apia-Honolulu and Christmas Island (Kiritimati) and Honolulu have been suspended with immediate effect.
He said at the end of the suspension, further travel restrictions may be announced if deemed necessary.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji Airways was working with foreign embassies and governments to arrange for a repatriation flight from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Hong Kong to allow foreign nationals to return home and permit Fijian citizens abroad to return to Fiji.
