BY DAVE PFLIEGER

Air Pacific's New Jets Expected To Boost Fiji

Tourism

Air Pacific's New Jets Expected To Boost Fiji Tourism

Dave Pflieger, President and CEO of Florida-based Silver Airways, recently completed a successful turn as CEO of Fiji Airways. In addition to leading an ambitious rebranding effort, Dave Pflieger upgraded the airline’s fleet with the purchase of three Airbus A330s.

Air Pacific's New Jets Expected To Boost Fiji Tourism

The new wide-body aircrafts are expected to contribute to the government’s goal of increasing tourism to the Fiji islands. Fiji’s tourism development plan aims to attract one million annual visitors by 2022. Currently, Fiji Airways, formerly known as Air Pacific, is the frontrunner to help meet that goal with the highest weekly inbound seat capacity of more than 28,000 seats. The next carrier, Virgin Australia, has a weekly capacity at 7,876 (as of March 2013). Once all three of Fiji Airway's new A330s hit the skies, tourism capacity to the islands will increase even more.

Air Pacific's New Jets Expected To Boost Fiji Tourism

Fiji Airways expects its new aircrafts and its expanded schedules out of Australia and the United States to position the company well against low-rate competitors in New Zealand and Australia. The airline will also play a part in attracting the growing Chinese tourism market to Fiji, which has already welcomed about 24,000 Chinese nationals, up from almost nothing three years ago.