Fiji Link to complete Twin Otter upgrade in late 3Q18 ch-aviation PRO exclusive

Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) and a number of other airlines cancelled flights to and from Nadi on Friday, July 27, due to the safety threat posed by the volcanic ash cloud after the eruption of Mount Aoba in Vanuatu.

The Fijian flag carrier and its regional subsidiary Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) have cancelled flights out of Nadi to each of Auckland Int'l, Suva, and Tongatapu.

Other airlines which have cancelled services to and from Nadi include Air New Zealand, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Aircalin.

Fiji Airways has also warned its passengers to expect further delays and possible cancellations due to the unpredictable situation.

Mount Aoba, more commonly known as Ambae, is a volcano located on an eponymous island which is essentially a giant volcanic peak. It erupts regularly every few months, threatening the lives of some 11,000 native inhabitants. The Ni-Vanuatu government is currently conducting a full evacuation of the island, the second in just 10 months. The country is considered to be...

Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) has taken delivery of its maiden DHC-6-400 following the arrival of C-GUVT (msn 956) in Fiji earlier this weekend. The turboprop is one of three Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) ordered from Viking Air (VKN, Victoria Int'l) as part of the fleet renewal of its interisland subsidiary.

Along with the two aircraft, which are due in early 2018, the trio of -400s will collectively replace Fiji Link's existing fleet of three De Havilland Canada-manufactured DHC-6-300s which now average over 40 years of age.

Earlier this year, Fiji Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen said the -400s would be used to increase daily flights to key local destinations such as Savusavu and Taveuni.

Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) has announced plans to acquire three DHC-6-400s from Viking Air (VKN, Victoria Int'l) as part of its fleet renewal plans for domestic unit, Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi). The agreement includes one optional aircraft of the type whose purchase will be decided in 2018.

In a statement, the Fijian national carrier said the three firm aircraft would arrive in October 2017 and early 2018 and would replace two of three existing DHC-6-300s that are now over 40 years old.

“This investment is in line with the overall modernisation of the entire Group fleet," Fiji Airways Group Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen said.

"With more aircraft, we can increase daily flights to key local destinations. Our capacity to Savusavu and Taveuni will grow by 30%, which will be welcome news to tourism operators in these regions."

“The fleet expansion will also allow Fiji Link to increase frequency on other domestic routes. Flights between Nadi and Suva will increase to seven a day....

Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) is set to resume commercial B737 flights out of Suva Nausori International Airport just over eight weeks after it withdrew the type from the airfield citing runway integrity concerns.

In a statement, Fiji Airways said it was satisfied with the remedial upgrade works performed but that several restrictions remained in place, notably during periods of inclement weather and high runway temperatures.

“We’re very relieved that the runway surface is now suitable again for our B737 aircraft," Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO said. "This allows us to reinstate our direct services to Suva from Sydney Kingsford Smith and Auckland Int'l. We know the past few weeks have been most inconvenient for all our affected guests. We completely empathise and reiterate our safety first approach in all situations."

Flights to the Australian and New Zealand cities are scheduled to resume in the coming weeks. During that time, passengers travelling abroad from Suva were forced to do so transiting Nadi using either Fiji Link (FJA,...