A Fijian parliamentary body has called on Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) to begin repaying loans to the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) and the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) after the airline achieved a strong financial recovery in 2023, The Fiji Times newspaper has reported.

In its review of the carrier's 2023 annual report, the parliamentary standing committee on social affairs noted the airline's turnaround from a FJD175 million Fijian dollars (USD76.8 million) loss in 2022 to an operational profit of FJD113.2 million (USD49.7 million) last year. The airline also generated record revenue of FJD1.8 billion (USD790.2 million).

"Fiji Airways must now begin repaying its loans to FNPF and FDB as per the agreed terms," the committee stated. "While the moratorium granted during COVID-19 was necessary at the time, the airline's strong financial position means it can now resume repayments."

The committee stressed that despite its return to profitability, Fiji Airways had not made any significant repayment to the FNPF in 2023.

The call comes after airline executives told the same committee in September that repayments on the securitised loans were commencing following the end of a three-year capital moratorium. At that time, former CEO Andre Viljoen said the FNPF was "very comfortable with the debt." As of July 31, 2025, the airline's outstanding loans stood at FJD678 million (USD297.6 million).

The committee also raised other concerns, urging Fiji Airways to recover costs associated with a chartered flight to Israel in September 2023 that is now the subject of a legal dispute over unpaid fares.

ch-aviation has reached Fiji Airways for comment.