Source : THE AGE NEWS
Fiji Airways will begin serving Australia’s newest airport, Western Sydney International, from next year to help meet surging demand for travel to the island nation.
The announcement comes as cross-town rival Sydney Airport flags plans to welcome EgyptAir flying to Cairo via Singapore from 2027.
Fiji Airways will be the sixth airline to commit to flying from Western Sydney International (WSI). The addition of Fiji Airways aligns with the needs of leisure travellers and the Fijian community in Sydney.
“This new route is a natural next step for us, and a chance to bring our award-winning service and the warmth Fiji is known for to one of the fastest-growing regions in the country,” said Fiji Airways chief executive Paul Scurrah.
Demand for travel to Fiji has been helped by the conflict in the Middle East, which flared up at the end of February, creating disruptions to flights through the region Australians relied on for travel to Europe and Britain.
Higher fuel costs have also raised airfares. In this environment, Australian travel to Bali, South-East Asia and the Pacific Islands has increased as a more predictable and affordable option.
In July, Fiji recorded 105,791 visitors, which was the highest monthly visitor arrivals number on record and the first time it topped the 100,000 mark, according to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics.
Fiji Airways will offer three services a week to and from Nadi. It will also connect the substantial Fijian and Pacific Islander community in Western Sydney.
“So for us, this is about more than tourism; it’s about making it easier for our own people to stay connected to family and home,” Scurrah said.
Fiji Airways plans a launch pricing sale to induce more travellers.
Two months before the commercial opening of Western Sydney airport, Jetstar, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Vietnamese low-cost carrier VietJet have committed to flying from the expansive site.
The Albanese government, which is overseeing aviation consumer reform and seeking to mediate tensions between Airservices Australia and the broader sector, is anxious for the Commonwealth-funded WSI to have a successful launch. The first commercial flights will be on October 25. Cargo flights are already operating.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Catherine King said that “Fiji is a top-10 international travel destination, so it’s exciting that there will be another travel option for Aussies, from Western Sydney’s new global gateway to the world.”
But some airlines are holding back from launching at WSI. In a sign of a new competitive dynamic in Sydney’s aviation market, Virgin Australia said it had not announced routes to the new airport, as it weighed the balance of supply and demand across the new airport and Sydney Airport.
“We are looking closely at the Western Sydney opportunity and assessing whether it would fit into a network and schedule that best serves the needs of our customers,” said a spokesperson for Virgin.
The Fiji Airways flights are expected to take off from WSI at 11.55pm and arrive at Nadi just before 5am.
The three weekly services will run Monday, Friday and Sunday, operating 737 MAX 8 aircraft, starting on March 19, 2027. The planes have eight business class seats and 162 economy seats.
The airline, a Oneworld loyalty club member, has also benefited from travel between Australia and the US, with the lush islands of Fiji as a stopover.
WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said this meant “business travellers can make valuable productivity gains, while holidaymakers can make the most of long weekend opportunities and swift connections for boat and ferry services to kick off their getaways”.
Sydney Airport has announced EgyptAir as its newest airline addition, with plans to launch a new service connecting Cairo, Singapore and Sydney from 2027, creating a new air link between Australia and Egypt.
“Egypt is the largest unserved African market for Australian travellers,” said Sydney Airport chief executive Scott Charlton. “And a Sydney service by EgyptAir is a big step forward in improving connectivity between Australia and Egypt.”
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Chris Zappone is a senior reporter covering aviation and business. He is former digital foreign editor.Connect via X, Facebook or email.
