Narional airline Fiji Airways achieved another historic milestone yesterday with the departure of the inaugural direct service between Nadi and the Gold Coast, Australia.
The new air route will operate three times a week on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays aboard the modern Boeing 737 Max aircraft, adding more than 53,000 seats annually between the two destinations.
Officiating at the Fiji Airways Flight FJ981 departure event in Nadi yesterday, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Fiji’s economic engagement with Australia would significantly grow.
“This is far more than the launch of a new air route,” Mr Rabuka said.
“It is the opening of a new gateway of opportunity between Fiji and one of Australia’s most dynamic and fastest-growing regions.
“It is a gateway that strengthens our people-to-people ties and reflects the deepening of the renewed and elevated Vuvale Partnership, which continues to guide cooperation between Fiji and Australia across trade, investment, tourism, labour mobility and sustainable development.
“This moment is also aligned with Fiji’s long-term development direction under Vision 2050, which seeks to build a more competitive, resilient and globally connected economy—anchored in strong international partnerships and expanded market access.”
Mr Rabuka said the Gold Coast is one of Australia’s most vibrant and rapidly expanding urban economies.
“As the country’s sixth largest city, it is globally recognised for its tourism industry, sporting culture, lifestyle economy and growing innovation ecosystem.
“With strong population growth, significant infrastructure development and preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the region is firmly positioned as one of Australia’s most important growth corridors. For Fiji, this makes the Gold Coast a natural economic and tourism partner.”
Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer Paul Scurrah said the demand for this new air route had exceeded expectations since tickets went on sale last December.
“Which tells us there has been strong demand for easier, more seamless travel between these two destinations,” Mr Scurrah said.
“This service will not only make it easier for Australians to visit Fiji, it will also introduce Fiji to a whole new audience of North American travellers heading to the Gold Coast through seamless one-stop connections via our hub in Nadi.
“And for many of those travellers, Fiji will become the perfect tropical stopover along the way and will hopefully inspire them to return for a longer stay in the future.”
The first direct Gold Coast to Nadi service also departed yesterday afternoon with the arrival of international visitors on the inaugural flight from Gold Coast which landed at 5:55pm.
“With the Gold Coast now Australia’s sixth largest city and one of the country’s fastest growing regions, this was a natural next step for Fiji Airways, and we’re incredibly proud that the Gold Coast has now become our seventh destination in Australia,” Mr Scurrah said.
