The Fiji Airways Aviation Academy is achieving annual cost savings of $22.7 million. A key benefit of the Academy is its capability to provide all required training internally, which encompasses initial type ratings, common type ratings, recurrent training, remedial training, and license conversions.
Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka shared this information in Parliament in response to questions about the Academy’s expansion strategy. He highlighted that by managing these training activities internally rather than outsourcing to third-party providers, Fiji Airways has successfully avoided substantial fees that would have been necessary for external training centers.
“This approach ensures that every dollar invested in training remains within the company, directly enhancing its financial stability,” Mr. Gavoka stated. He noted that previously, pilots had to travel to international destinations for training, creating additional costs for accommodation and living expenses in places like Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Brisbane, Seattle, and Bangkok.
With the establishment of the Academy, such expenses have been completely removed, allowing pilots to complete all their training in Fiji and significantly lowering the financial impact of travel abroad.