Fiji Airways has marked its 65th birthday by adopting two schools in Taveuni for rehabilitation works following Tropical Cyclone Winston.

This was announced by the airline’s managing director and chief executive officer, Andre Viljoen, during the celebrations in Nadi yesterday.

“It gives me great pleasure to announce that Wings of Hope, under the ambit of the Government’s Adopt-A-School programme, will adopt two schools in Taveuni, and assist them in their rebuilding efforts following Cyclone Winston.”

The schools adopted are South Taveuni Primary School and the South Taveuni Secondary School.

“We selected the two schools as they are an integral part of the community on Taveuni, which is a key domestic route served by Fiji Link.

“Our children are our future, and deserve all the support we can give them,” Mr Viljoen said.

The announcement was followed by the signing of documents by the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Mr Viljoen and Eric Narayan, chairman of the Board for these schools.

Fiji Airways Wings of Hope charity is primarily funded through the onboard Cash for Kids programme along with contribution from the company and staff. The primary beneficiary for any Wings of Hope project are children.

Mr Viljoen said it was on this day in 1951 that the airline undertook its first commercial flight.

“It marked a new chapter for Fiji, as Fijians took to the skies, and our very own piece of civil aviation history was born.”

The airline gave credit to its founder, Harold Gatty, a pioneering aviator for taking the bold step to establish the airline in Fiji.

Mr Viljoen said national airlines were rare these days as very few had survived and that everyone should be proud that Fiji Airways was still going, 65 years on.

He said the airline would not be enjoying the success today if it had not been for the backing of Government during its toughest challenges.

He said Government as well as the board and management of the airline had worked together to transform the airline.

“Restrictive policies and practices which hampered our growth were changed, and these changes allowed us to expand our network, acquire modern aircraft and rebrand us into a genuine expression of the Fijian spirit.”

He said the employees, along with the passion, support and the pride of the Fijian people who had been there willing the company on contributed to the success of the airline.

Mr Viljoen said as part of the commemoration, the airline would plant one tree for every single international takeoff from Nadi International Airport.

This would amount to almost 3000 trees planted each year and the project to be named Every Takeoff…One Tree.

He said this initiative was about conservation and the protection of Fiji’s environment.

“While we continue to get aircraft which are more fuel efficient and reduce our carbon footprint, we can always do more.”

This would be done in consultations with environment groups and the Government, and will target indigenous trees to be planted all over Fiji.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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