Fiji Airways says it will maintain its full schedule of international services despite rising jet fuel prices sparked by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the national carrier stressing it is balancing cost pressures while protecting seat capacity to support tourism and trade. The assurance came from managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah as he signed a memorandum of understanding with Tourism Fiji in Nadi.
Scurrah told the gathering that the airline is facing “a significant increase in the cost of fuel,” a global impact that is putting pressure on operations across the industry. He said Fiji Airways is working to ensure inbound and outbound seat capacity to the islands is preserved, while finding ways to cover higher fuel bills without deterring travellers. “We need to do everything that we possibly can to make sure that seat capacity that is coming and going to Fiji is maintained,” he said, adding the company is “walking that fine line and finding that delicate balance.”
The carrier is also seeing a commercial upside amid the uncertainty, Scurrah said, with its reputation as a safe, family-friendly destination generating fresh interest. “On the flip side to that, our reputation as a safe and family-friendly destination is playing into our hands at the moment, and we are seeing increased interest in coming either to Fiji or through Fiji from people who would not have contemplated to do so,” he said. That demand, he added, is helping to mitigate the impact of elevated fuel costs.
Said measures were not detailed, Scurrah emphasised the airline’s commitment to reliable operations and ongoing monitoring of global developments that could affect aviation. He reiterated that Fiji Airways intends to operate its full schedule “as planned” to sustain tourism numbers and keep trade and connectivity open for Fiji and the wider Pacific region.
The MoU with Tourism Fiji, signed in Nadi, underlines a coordinated approach between the carrier and the national tourism agency to protect the flow of visitors—a key economic lifeline for the islands. While travel markets worldwide have seen airlines adjust capacity or add fuel surcharges in response to volatile fuel prices, Fiji Airways is signalling a preference for operational continuity to support the destination’s recovery and reputation.
The airline’s statement comes as airlines globally assess the knock-on effects of geopolitical unrest on fuel markets and passenger behaviour. For Fiji, where international arrivals drive a large portion of economic activity, maintaining scheduled services while managing rising operating costs will be watched closely by the tourism sector and businesses dependent on consistent air links.
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