Fiji Airways says it will not cut routes or reduce flight frequencies in the immediate term despite sharp increases in global fuel prices driven by the war in the Middle East, the airline’s chief executive Paul Scurrah said on Monday. The carrier will maintain its full schedule to ensure Fiji remains connected to key markets, even as other airlines around the world begin to make temporary route adjustments in response to soaring fuel costs.
Scurrah told reporters the company is watching fuel markets closely but is not following the pattern of short-term route suspensions seen elsewhere. “So the fuel price hikes are affecting all airlines globally right now, and you’re seeing the reaction from many in the industry already — ready to recover through pricing mechanisms, be that a levy or increased fares,” he said. He stressed the importance of keeping all routes operational for passengers who rely on the services and for supporting Fiji’s tourism sector.
Fuel cost volatility already represents a major expense for the airline, accounting for roughly 30 to 40 percent of operating costs, Scurrah said. That exposure means sustained high oil prices could force the carrier to look at recovery measures. “We haven’t decided yet to put a fuel levy on. We’re monitoring it every day. But like many of the other airlines that have already come out, it is an option available to us,” he said, adding that any move would seek to balance cost recovery with maintaining service to all destinations.
The statement is the latest development in a broader regional concern about energy security after recent strikes in the Gulf prompted warnings that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz could lift global fuel prices. Earlier coverage by local regulators and governments highlighted the risk to fuel supply chains; on March 3 the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission warned the nation would be a price taker if the key shipping lane were affected. Pacific neighbours have also been preparing contingency plans — the Cook Islands government has already instructed officials to safeguard fuel and essential supplies amid the crisis.
Fiji Airways has faced operational constraints related to fuel before: in January the carrier imposed limits on flights to Funafuti and Vavaʻu because of fuel supply shortages at destination airports, requiring aircraft to uplift extra contingency fuel and, in some cases, offload passengers or luggage to meet weight restrictions. Scurrah said the current decision to maintain routes differs from those targeted operational restrictions, which were dictated by local fuel availability rather than global price movements.
For now, passengers are expected to see normal schedules remain in place. Scurrah indicated the airline would continue daily price monitoring and would only consider fare adjustments or a targeted fuel surcharge if the market does not stabilise. Any change would be communicated well in advance, he said, to minimise disruption to travellers and to preserve the fragile recovery in Pacific tourism that depends heavily on reliable air links.
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