The Fiji Airways Aviation Academy has achieved annual cost savings of $22.7 million. One of the Academy’s key strengths is its ability to conduct all required training in-house. This encompasses initial type ratings, common type ratings, recurrent training, remedial training, and license conversion.
Minister for Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka disclosed this information in Parliament while responding to inquiries regarding the academy’s growth strategy. He emphasized that by managing these training activities internally rather than outsourcing them to third-party providers, Fiji Airways has avoided significant fees typically associated with external training centers.
Gavoka stated, “This move ensures that every dollar invested in training remains within the company, contributing directly to its financial stability.” He pointed out that previously, pilots needed to travel to international training facilities in locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Honolulu, Brisbane, Seattle, and Bangkok.
These travels not only required paying training fees but also incurred substantial costs for accommodations and living expenses. With the establishment of the academy, Gavoka noted that these additional expenses have been completely eliminated, allowing pilots to complete all necessary training in Fiji and easing the financial burden of overseas travel.