One of the world’s largest major airline alliance groupings, oneworld, has announced that Fijian national carrier Fiji Airways will be joining the alliance, becoming its 15th full member. The carrier has been a ‘oneworld connect’ partner for the past five years in which time it has already developed partnerships with various current oneworld partner airlines.
These relationships have been key to Fiji Airways’ securing its transition to full member status and its subsequent integration, the process of which will start immediately and will be completed “within the next twelve months,” according to a oneworld statement.
Based at Nadi International Airport (NAN), Fiji Airways serves 26 destinations in 15 countries and territories globally, including the oneworld hubs at Sydney (SYD), Hong Kong (HKG), Los Angeles (LAX), and Tokyo (HND). Having first flown 73 years ago in 1951, the company now operates a fleet of aircraft comprising Airbus A350-900s (four), Airbus A330-200s (three), A330-300 (one), Boeing 737-800 (one) and 737 MAX 8 (five).
In addition to Fiji Airways’ mainline operation joining the alliance, Fiji Link, a wholly owned subsidiary of Fiji Airways, will become an affiliate airline of oneworld. Fiji Link will add further Fijian domestic connections to the alliance’s global network, with flights to airports in Suva, Labasa, Taveuni, and Kadavu. It will also offer regional connections to neighboring Pacific Island nations such as Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The subsidiary operates a single ATR42-600, a pair of ATR72-600s plus four DHC-6 Twin Otters.
“It’s a very warm bula, or hello, to Fiji Airways as we welcome them as our 15th full member airline in the oneworld alliance,” said Nat Pieper, oneworld CEO. “Fiji Airways is already part of the oneworld family, as we have had a highly successful relationship since the airline joined as a oneworld connect partner five years ago. With its tremendous growth, award-winning product and services, and acceleration of connections with all oneworld member airlines, Fiji Airways will strengthen our position as the premier airline alliance for international global travellers.”
“I am extremely proud to announce our full membership in the award-winning oneworld alliance, marking a significant step in our commitment to providing unparalleled service and connectivity,” added Andre Viljoen, Managing Director, and CEO of Fiji Airways. As a full member airline, we are excited to enhance the travel experience for oneworld alliance frequent flyers, offering greater accessibility to Fiji and the South Pacific, and ensuring seamless connections and memorable journeys for Fiji Airways customers across the alliance network.”
As a fully incorporated member of oneworld, Fiji Airways will provide oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby customers “a full suite” of oneworld benefits including earning and redeeming miles, earning status points, priority check-in and boarding, and lounge access.
Likewise, Fiji Airways’ top-tier loyalty customers will be able to gain access to the alliance’s global network of nearly 700 business and first class lounges, which includes the newly opened oneworld branded lounges in Amsterdam’s Schiphol (AMS) and Seoul’s Incheon Airports (ICN). Other benefits will also be available to customers in these tiers.
In 2023, Fiji Airways announced record annual profits and revenues, carrying 2.2 million passengers and offering a total capacity of 2.8 million seats across its route network. It employs 2,000 people and carries almost 70% of all international visitors to Fiji annually.
Meanwhile, 2024 marks the 25th year since oneworld was founded in 1999 by founding partners American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas. Later in 2024, Oman Air will become the 14th member airline of the alliance, joining these initial four members plus Alaska Airlines, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and Sri Lankan Airlines.