Fiji Airways will suspend its direct Nadi–Dallas Fort Worth service on September 7 as part of a targeted network reshuffle prompted by soaring jet fuel costs and shifting market demand, the national carrier announced yesterday.
The airline said most affected passengers will be rebooked on same‑day connections via its existing North American gateways. Fiji Airways will continue to serve the United States with up to 11 flights a week through Los Angeles and San Francisco, and will offer onward connections to Dallas Fort Worth via its partnership with American Airlines. The carrier said alternative routing options through Vancouver will also be available for many travellers.
Chief executive Paul Scurrah framed the move as a strategic redeployment of capacity to stronger, more sustainable markets rather than a retreat from North America. “These changes allow the airline to focus on markets where we are seeing the strongest and most sustainable demand,” he said, adding the carrier remained “committed to maintaining global connectivity for our customers.” The airline said it had taken measures to minimise disruption and was contacting impacted customers directly with updated travel details.
Alongside the Dallas Fort Worth suspension, Fiji Airways is increasing capacity on other international routes. From September 8 the airline will upgauge its three weekly Vancouver services from the A330 to its flagship A350 aircraft to meet demand, and Hong Kong frequencies will rise to four flights per week year‑round from September 22. Scurrah said these adjustments reflected resilient demand from key markets, notably Australia and New Zealand, and stronger forward bookings for travel to Fiji.
The carrier pointed to a sharp rise in operating costs as a key driver of the network changes. Jet fuel prices have “more than doubled” since the start of the year, a pressure that has forced airlines worldwide to revisit schedules and aircraft deployment. Despite the cost shock, Fiji’s tourism appeal remains robust: the country recorded an all‑time visitor number for March 2023, and the airline said forward bookings were “encouraging,” indicating sustained interest in Fiji as a family‑friendly destination.
Fiji Airways said it is implementing targeted cost‑management measures across the business while working with industry partners and the government to support stability and connectivity. The carrier emphasised it would continue to monitor global developments closely and take a disciplined approach to ensure long‑term sustainability, signalling further adjustments could follow if economic or market conditions change.