Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) took delivery of its first A350-900, DQ-FAI (msn 299), on November 15, 2019, in a ceremony at Toulouse Blagnac airport.
The Airbus widebody, on dry-lease from DAE Capital, was subsequently ferried to Dubai World Central, where it will be displayed during the Dubai Air Show prior to delivery to Nadi via Brisbane International.
The Pacific carrier will use the A350 on its trunk routes from Nadi to Sydney Kingsford Smith, Los Angeles International, and Auckland International. The entry into service is currently scheduled for December 1, the ch-aviation schedules module shows.
Chief Executive Andre Viljoen told Airline Ratings said that the airline will also use the A350s to expand its American network with Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare named as possible new destinations.
The aircraft is equipped with 334 seats, including 33 business and 301 economy class seats.
Fiji Airways is due to take another A350-900, also on dry-lease from DAE Capital, in mid-December 2019. The carrier's present widebody fleet includes five A330-200s and one A330-300. It plans to continue operating six widebodies with two A330-200s due to be phased out once both A350s start operating.
Viljoen clarified that the two -200s to leave the fleet will be DQ-FJO (msn 751) and DQ-FJP (msn 807), both ex-Air Seychelles units sub-leased from Etihad Aviation Group.
The airline also operates one B737-700 and two B737-800s (plus another one wet-leased from Malindo Air (Kuala Lumpur International)). It has two B737-8s on the ground and a further three on firm order from Boeing. According to the ch-aviation fleets module, Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) operates one ATR42-600, two ATR72-600s, and four DHC-6-400s.
