Fiji Airways, the national airline of the Pacific island nation of Fiji, has announced it has signed an interline agreement with Toronto-based Porter Airlines, a regional carrier that operates scheduled services in Canada and the US. The agreement will allow passengers to purchase a single to fly from airports served by Porter Airlines and to seamlessly connect onto an onward Fiji Airways-operated flight out of Vancouver (YVR), Los Angeles (LAX), and San Francisco (SFO).
The interline is being seen by Fiji Airways as an integral step in the carrier’s ambitions to open up its home nation to more tourism and to attract more business traffic from cities across North America
“Our bookings to and from North America have been strong, collectively making up the second-largest group of visitors to Fiji in 2023,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andre Viljoen. “Many of these guests are flying in from other cities to catch our flights out of the three ports that Fiji Airways serves.”
“We are excited to launch this interline partnership with Porter Airlines which creates easier access, and more travel options for customers travelling to and from the important and growing list of markets Porter serves,” he added.
Porter Airlines provides services to more than 30 destinations across Canada and the US using its fleet of 61 aircraft. The carrier maintains hubs in Toronto (YYT), Ottawa, Montréal, and Halifax.
“This new partnership offers passengers seamless connections between Fiji Airways and Porter at key locations along the West Coast of North America,” said Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Porter Airlines, Edmond Eldebs. “It improves access for Canadians to destinations across the Pacific, and for passengers originating on Fiji flights to reach points across Eastern Canada.”
“This partnership means that families in various parts of the two countries can realistically consider a holiday in Fiji,” Viljoen added. “Fiji is an ideal holiday destination for anyone looking for sun, sand, and sea with a vast variety of local experiences and culinary delights. Paradise is closer than you thought possible.”
“Guests also won’t have to book separate flights and carry their luggage from one check-in counter to another because our agreement with Porter Airlines takes care of all that in one ticket,” Viljoen continued.
Fiji Airways currently operates a fleet of 21 aircraft comprising three Airbus A330-300s, one A330-200, and four A350-900s. The airline also has a single 737-800 plus five 737 MAX 8s in operation. For shorter routes, the carrier employs three ATR72s and uses its four DHC-6 Twin Otters for inter-island sectors.