The Fiji Airways Aviation Academy has reported annual cost savings of $22.7 million. A key benefit of the Academy is its ability to conduct all essential training in-house. This training includes initial type ratings, common type ratings, recurrent training, remedial training, and license conversions.
Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka discussed this initiative in Parliament, emphasizing the strategy to enhance the Academy’s capabilities. He explained that by eliminating the need to outsource training to external providers, Fiji Airways has successfully avoided significant fees that would have gone to third-party training centers.
“This approach ensures that every dollar spent on training stays within the company, directly supporting its financial health,” Mr. Gavoka stated. He noted that in the past, pilots had to travel to international training hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Brisbane, Seattle, and Bangkok, which incurred not only training fees but also substantial accommodation and living costs.
With the establishment of the Academy, these expenses have been completely removed, allowing pilots to complete all required training in Fiji and thus lessen the financial strain associated with overseas training.