To The Max

Fiji Airways brand new Boeing 737 MAX8 aircraft featuring the oneworld connect logo touched down in Nadi after its delivery flight from the manufacturer’s Seattle base late last year. Four more of these state-of-the-art twinjets will follow this year replacing the older 737s flying on the airline’s short and medium haul network in Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii and neighbouring Pacific Islands. Fiji Airways is the first airline in the region to operate this modern aircraft type.

Oneworld CEO Rob Gurney said: “oneworld is very pleased to welcome Fiji Airways on board as our first oneworld connect partner, making it easier and more rewarding than ever for South Pacific islanders to reach virtually anywhere globally – and for visitors from all around the world to travel to this enchanting and captivating region. The addition of another high quality airline to our alliance builds further on oneworld’s position of alliance leadership across the Pacific.”

Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen stated: “Fiji Airways is thrilled and honoured to be the first oneworld connect partner globally. We are delighted to link Fiji and the South Pacific to the world’s premier airline alliance and further deepen our relationships in particular with Qantas, American Airlines, British Airways and Cathay Pacific.

“This important step for our airline enables us to offer more services and benefits to our own customers along with the others in the oneworld family, to achieve a greater presence for our airline internationally and to build on the in-bound tourism that is so vital to our home nation and our region.”

Customers with Emerald, Sapphire or Ruby status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme can now use priority check-in desks, where available, when flying in any cabin class on Fiji Airways, while customers with Emerald or Sapphire status in any oneworld member airline’s frequent flyer programme will also be offered priority boarding when flying on Fiji Airways.

Additional oneworld connect customer benefits are being phased in between Fiji Airways and its four oneworld sponsors – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways and Qantas.
Oneworld’s regular range of services and benefits remain in place for customers flying with the alliance’s full member airlines and their affiliates.

Oneworld connect was unveiled in June as the alliance’s first new membership platform since it was originally announced 20 years ago – with Fiji Airways revealed at the same time as oneworld connect’s debut partner.

Oneworld is continuing discussions with other carriers interested in participating in the programme, from various parts of the world including the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Each oneworld connect partner will need to have a minimum of three oneworld members as its sponsors to be initiated into the programme.

For full details of oneworld connect and services and benefits offered by Fiji Airways as a oneworld connect partner, see oneworld.com

Fiji Airways is the flag carrier of Fiji. It serves 21 destinations in 13 countries and territories, including oneworld hubs Sydney, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Tokyo.

Fiji Airways operates a fleet of 18 aircraft, including five Airbus A330s (with a sixth joining the fleet shortly), five next generation Boeing 737s and is the first airline in the region to receive and operate brand new 737 MAX8.