The Fiji Airways Aviation Academy has achieved annual cost savings of $22.7 million. A key benefit of the Academy is its capability to provide all required training internally. This includes initial type ratings, common type ratings, recurrent training, remedial training, and license conversion.
Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka highlighted this in Parliament while addressing inquiries regarding the Academy’s expansion strategy. He noted that by conducting training in-house, Fiji Airways has eliminated the need to outsource these services, thereby avoiding substantial fees typically charged by external training facilities.
“This approach ensures that every dollar spent on training stays within the company, positively impacting its financial stability,” Mr. Gavoka stated. He explained that previously, pilots had to travel to international training sites such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Brisbane, Seattle, and Bangkok, which involved not only training costs but also significant expenses for accommodation and living.
With the Academy’s establishment, those additional costs have been completely removed, allowing pilots to complete all necessary training in Fiji and significantly reducing the financial burden of overseas travel.