Qantas Looks Set To Return To Fiji

Major Australian airline, Qantas is looking to return to Fiji in 2019 for the first time since the early 2000s.

The airline has requested the Australia International Air Services Commission (IASC) to grant the airline 696 seats per week between Australian capital cities and Fiji.

This would equal four return flights on a Boeing 737-800 per week.

"Effective during the Northern Summer scheduling season, commencing 31 March 2019, Qantas plans to commence services between Australia and Fiji route using B737 aircraft," the application dated November 27 and published on the IASC website said.

A spokesperson from Qantas also stated that the airline was looking to return to Fiji early next year and will be releasing more details soon.

"We are planning to launch new services from Australia to Fiji, where we are seeing increased demand for premium travel," the spokesperson said.

Qantas plan to return to Fiji comes after the Australian and Fiji governments signed an air services agreement to boost available seats on flights between the two countries by 20 per cent.

"It supports our tourism, trade and cultural links between Australia and Fiji. More than 388,000 passengers travelled between Australia and Fiji in the year to June 2018," said Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Michael McCormack.

Located just 3 and a half hours from Australia's east coast, it's no surprise that Fiji is one of Australia's most favourite overseas travel destinations.

Qantas currently codeshares with Fiji Airways' direct flights from Nadi to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide as well as their low cost carrier airline, Jetstar who currently operates direct flights between Nadi and Sydney.

The Qantas spokesperson stated that the additional proposed Qantas flights would complement Jetstars' already existing services as well as provide an additoinal premium service option for travellers.

(18th December 2018)