Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen to Step Down in October

Fiji Airways has officially announced that its Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen, will step down in October 2025 after 10 years at the helm.

He will take up the role of CEO at Air Mauritius, marking a return home after a decade of transformative leadership in Fiji.

Fiji Airways Chairman Nalin Patel expressed gratitude for Mr Viljoen’s contributions, noting that under his leadership the airline achieved significant milestones, including:

• A SKYTRAX upgrade to 4-Star rating and a leap in global rankings from 102nd (2015) to 14th (2024)
• Named Best Airline in Australia/Pacific two years in a row
• Expansion of the fleet from 12 to 24 aircraft, including Airbus A350s
• Revenue growth from FJ$815.3M in 2015 to FJ$1.9B in 2024
• Creation of a world-class Aviation Academy, attracting clients like Qantas and Cathay Pacific

Mr Viljoen was also praised for guiding the airline through the COVID-19 pandemic with a strong recovery strategy, operating 523 repatriation flights and becoming the first carrier to resume services to Australia and New Zealand post-lockdown.

He will remain on the Fiji Airways Board after his transition.

The airline has confirmed that there is no conflict of interest with Air Mauritius, and shared aircraft types may present future collaboration opportunities.

A global search for his replacement will begin shortly, with the position to be advertised both locally and internationally.

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