Fiji Airways will lead a trade delegation on a promotional flight to Vancouver in August, the airline has revealed.

It preludes the commencement of direct flights between Fiji and Vancouver from November.

The promotional trip on August 9, will allow participants to engage with industry experts and counterparts in Canada.

Managing director and Chief Executive Officer, Andre Viljoen, said the Vancouver route brought to 20 the number of destinations accessed by the national carrier, since Fiji reopened to the world.

November 25th

Come November 25, two weekly flights will be scheduled.

It is a 10-hour flight one way.

“Our new route is strategically timed to offer Canadians an escape from the cold winter to a beautiful Fijian paradise,” Mr Viljoen said.

“Canada represents a new market with immense potential for tourism, trade, and of course reconnecting Fijian families.”

“To strengthen ourselves and grow as a business, we must invest in new markets and solidify our networks.

“And Vancouver was the ideal choice for us.”

Additional benefits such as My Bubble and My Island seating arrangements allow passengers to purchase an extra seat or row for extra space and comfort.

Shareholders

In another development, Fiji National Provident Fund and Unit Trust of Fiji are new shareholders of the national airline.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy and Civil Aviation, Aiyaz-Sayed Khaiyum, said Fiji did not have the capacity to provide direct funds to the airline

“We worked closely with Fiji Airways to come up with a solution to ensure that Fiji Airways remained flying, because we knew that one day we would get out of COVID-19, and there had to be a game plan.”

Fiji National Provident Fund owns 30.02 per cent shares in the airline, while Unit Trust of Fiji has 1.58 per cent.

“If 40 per cent of your economy is dependent on the service sector, you have to be strategic about that to ensure you have a national carrier that does the bulk of the work, and brings the bulk of passengers to Fiji.”

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