Qantas earmarks return to Fiji in 2019

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Qantas has signalled its intent to restart non-stop services between Australia and Fiji next year. The Aussie carrier this week applied to the International Air Services Commission, seeking rights to relaunch flights commencing 31 March using narrow-body Boeing 737 aircraft.The resumption of flights to Fiji will come nearly 20 years after Qantas withdrew its regular services to the South Pacific tourist hub. In 2000, Qantas Group chose to operate its budget airline, Jetstar, to Nadi instead of a full-service carrier.Qantas has sought an allocation of 696 seats (four flights) per week to Fiji for a period of five years, with the requested capacity to be fully utilised by 26 October 2019.“For flexibility, the ability for another Australian carrier which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Qantas, such as Jetstar Airways Pty Limited, to utilise capacity on the route is requested,” Qantas said. Qantas 737-800 Business ClassA spokesperson for Qantas told LATTE the move to reintroduce Fiji to its network follows “increased demand for premium travel” to the destination.“This will complement Jetstar’s existing flights and our codeshare with Fiji Airways,” the spokesperson added.Qantas currently codeshares with Fiji Airways on its flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco, via Nadi. Qantas was also one of four founding members of the oneworld airline alliance to sponsor Fiji Airways’ entry into the collective as a oneworld Connect member earlier this year.

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