Fiji Airways plans to fly to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), which would give Australian travellers a new way to connect to the southern USA and beyond.
Fiji’s national carrier recently requested permission from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch a new nonstop route between Nadi (NAN) and the Texas hub, utilising its new 334-seat A350 aircraft on the route.
According to the DOT application, the airline would fly three times a week between the ports, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays “beginning as soon as all required government approvals are received”.
Fiji Airways holds an International Scheduled Air Services Permit issued by Fiji’s Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, which allows the airline to operate services to any point in the US.
A DFW service would see the carrier fly to four ports in the US – it currently operates flights from Nadi to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu. In addition, it flies to Vancouver in Canada.
In a recent interview, Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen said the airline would also consider flying to Seattle.
“We’re hoping to add a new long-haul destination within the next year. Network growth in North America in 2023 was up 17 per cent in comparison to 2022. We want this to continue,” he said.
With Australia and New Zealand making up 65 per cent of Fiji Airways’ business, and half of that traffic connecting onwards – especially to North America – you can bet many Aussies would also take advantage of a new DFW service, with or without a stopover in Fiji.
“Fiji Airways’ proposed service adds new service and new travel options for travel to Fiji from a major market in a new US geographic region with convenient connections to the middle and eastern US,” the carrier said in its application.
Fiji Airways could not comment further on the DFW application.
Viljoen also recently teased the prospect of flying to two new ports on Australia’s east coast, giving even more Aussies direct access to Fiji’s golden shores.
Elsewhere, it’s been busy times for the airline… in June, Fiji Airways announced it would be joining American Airlines’ AAdvantage travel loyalty program within the next year.
Just weeks after reporting a record 2023, the carrier also revealed it would become the 15th full-member airline of the oneworld alliance, moving up from its previous status as a oneworld connect partner.
In other good news for Fiji Airways, the carrier placed among the top 15 airlines in the world – above aviation giants like Etihad, Lufthansa, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines – in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey, the World Airline Awards. By doing so, it also finished as the Australia and Pacific region’s favourite carrier.
In May, the carrier officially launched its Chef’s Table innovation, a new Fijian fine-dining experience for all travellers to savour at the FJ’s Premier Lounge at Nadi Airport.
