Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Andre Viljoen has confirmed his carrier has moved closer to the Samoan government concerning the latter's plans to establish a new airline following the dissolution of Virgin Samoa (Apia Faleolo) later this year.
Last month, Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi said his government had turned to the Fijians for assistance in reestablishing Polynesian Airlines (Apia Fagali'i) as a full-scale international operator once a joint-venture with Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane International) expires in December this year. The Samoans have reportedly expressed unhappiness at Virgin Samoa's financial performance and costs.
Speaking to CAPA, Viljoen said the Fijian carrier has an in principal agreement with the Samoan government to assist it in acquiring a B737NextGen for the flag carrier which would assume Virgin Samoa's Australian and New Zealand services.
As part of its proposed partnership, Fiji Airways would provide support to the airline as well as training to its crew. A joint-venture would also be established covering any additional flights that Fiji Airways operates from Samoa.
In addition, Fiji Airways would also look at opening up a 3x weekly Apia Faleolo-Honolulu service. As it currently runs the route on a weekly basis, the two additional flights would come under the new joint venture. Three of Fiji Airways' Nadi-Apia flights would also be upgraded from the current ATR 72-600 to the B737-800.
