Statement-by-Hon.-Prime-Minister-J.V.-Bainimarama-on-Fijis-Third-Confirmed-Case-of-COVID-19-Monday-23-March-2020

In light of the unprecedented impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic on the aviation industry, our national carrier, Fiji Airways, has announced a suspension schedule for 95% of its international flight routes. This is the most stringent scale back in the airline’s 68-year history. 
 
Fiji Link domestic services will remain in effect but may be adjusted depending on demand. To continue to assist importers and exporters, Fiji Airways is actively seeking advanced commitments to facilitate weekly freight service flights from Nadi-Los Angeles, Nadi-Sydney and Nadi-Auckland. Those looking to take advantage of this service should contact Fiji Airways Head of Cargo Operations Athil Narayan by e-mail at athil.narayan@fijiairways.com or phone at 9908129.
 
The suspension schedule on passenger travel will come into effect as follows: 
 

– Fiji Airways will operate one Nadi-Sydney return service on Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March, and suspend the service after that. Nadi-Los Angeles return services will operate on Saturday 21 March and Sunday 22 March, and be suspended after the last Los Angeles-Nadi flight returns to Fiji on 24 March.

 
– Fiji Airways will operate the last return Auckland-Nadi service on Sunday 22 March. The final South Pacific return services between Nadi or Suva and Nuku’alofa, Honiara and Funafuti will operate on Saturday 21 March.
 
– Return services between Nadi and Brisbane, Melbourne, Christchurch, Wellington, Hong Kong, Tokyo (Narita), Apia, Tarawa, Christmas Island (Kiritimati), Vava’u, San Francisco and Honolulu are suspended immediately.
 
– Direct return services between Suva and Sydney, Auckland and Port Vila, along with services between Apia-Honolulu and Christmas Island (Kiritimati)-Honolulu are also suspended with immediate effect.
 
– Twice-weekly services between Singapore and Nadi will continue.
 
This suspension schedule will remain in place through the end of May 2020, where further travel restrictions may be announced if deemed necessary. Fiji Airways will be contacting customers affected by this suspension schedule directly over the coming days.
 
Anyone who –– due to the confinement order in place in the Lautoka confined area –– will be unable to make their pre-scheduled flights (domestic or international) will be not be charged fees or penalised.
 
Fiji Airways is working closely with foreign embassies and governments to arrange for one-off repatriation flights to and from Sydney, Auckland, Los Angeles, Tokyo and Hong Kong to allow foreign nationals to safely return home and permit Fijian citizens living abroad to return to Fiji. 
 
All passengers, including all Fijians, arriving from overseas destinations will be screened prior to boarding and medically checked on arrival to Fiji. Upon arrival, these passengers will all be required to undergo 14 days of self-quarantine, in line with the Fijian Government’s sweeping measures to prevent a large-scale outbreak of COVID-19 in Fiji. 
 
The repatriation flights schedule and booking options can be found on Fiji Airways website.   
 
In light of these suspensions, Fiji Airways has announced they will be re-assessing future staffing requirements. The Fijian Government remains committed to ensuring that employees throughout the country who are impacted by the global COVID-19 economic crisis have their rights upheld and best interests protected.

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