Half a million passengers later, Fiji Airways marks decade of growth on San Francisco route

More than half a million passengers, 2300 flights and a decade of growing tourism, trade and family connections later, Fiji Airways is celebrating 10 years of flying between Nadi and San Francisco — a route the airline says has become one of its most important gateways to North America.

Since launching the service in June 2016, the San Francisco route has evolved into a key pillar of Fiji Airways’ international network, helping drive visitor arrivals from the United States while linking Fiji with one of the world's largest aviation and tourism markets.

The route has also served as a vital bridge for Pacific Islanders and Fijians living across California and the wider United States West Coast, strengthening cultural, family and business ties between the Pacific and North America.

Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer Paul Scurrah said the anniversary reflected the airline's growing relationship with the United States and the opportunities the route had created for Fiji.

“For the past decade, our San Francisco service has played a vital role in connecting Fiji with one of the world’s most important aviation and tourism markets supporting visitor arrivals, strengthening trade links and enhancing connectivity between Fiji, North America and the wider Pacific.

“The North American market represents our biggest long-term potential for growth, not just for Fiji Airways but for Fiji's tourism industry, and this milestone is a reminder of how far we have come.

“As the World's Happiest Airline, we are proud to continue sharing the warmth and spirit of Fiji with every customer who travels this route," Mr Scurrah said.

San Francisco was selected as a destination in 2016 because of its position as a major Pacific Rim hub, offering strong demand from leisure travellers and extensive onward connections.

Today, the service operates three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a fourth weekly flight added during peak travel periods.

The route also provides connections to Fiji Airways' wider Pacific network and destinations across Australia and New Zealand, while linking into the airline's oneworld alliance partners.

Tourism Fiji chief executive officer Dr Paresh Pant said the service had played a major role in making Fiji more accessible to American travellers.

“Direct connectivity is one of the most important enablers of tourism growth, and over the past decade the San Francisco route has played a significant role in strengthening Fiji’s presence in the United States and making the destination more accessible to American travellers.

“The service has supported our efforts of sustained growth from one of our most valuable visitor markets and helped deepen awareness of Fiji across North America.

“As we continue to grow visitor arrivals from the region, strong airline partnerships and strategic air connectivity will remain critical to Fiji’s tourism success. We congratulate Fiji Airways on this milestone and look forward to building on the opportunities this important route continues to create,” Dr Pant said.

San Francisco International Airport director Mike Nakornkhet also acknowledged the anniversary.

"We congratulate Fiji Airways on 10 years of service at SFO and thank them for connecting the Bay Area with Fiji and the South Pacific," he said.

"For the past decade, this route has strengthened tourism, business, and cultural ties between our regions. We look forward to supporting Fiji Airways' continued success at SFO."

For Fiji Airways, the milestone is more than an anniversary. It marks a decade of growing Fiji's footprint in North America and lays the foundation for further expansion into what the airline sees as its largest long-term growth market.