After more than a year of no direct international flights, Canberra Airport is set to welcome back an international airline. Fiji Airways has announced it will fly between Canberra and Nadi International Airport on Fiji’s main island, with flights commencing on 30th June.
Direct international flights to Canberra were halted when the pandemic took hold, with Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines pulling out as air travel collapsed. Since then, executives from Canberra Airport and officials from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government have been lobbying for a return of international flights. The return of an international airline to Canberra would not only benefit Canberra and its passengers but also put the city back on the international flight map.
During the pandemic, Canberra passengers travelling internationally have had to fly to and from Melbourne, Brisbane, or Sydney, changing terminals at the bigger airports. Incomers have gone through customs and immigration in the bigger airports rather than in Canberra. The return of international flights to Canberra will mean Border Force officials at the airport, enabling full processing of incoming and outgoing travelers.
Qatar Airways had initially planned to resume flights from Canberra on October 1st last year, but postponed the date to early December. The airline’s return has been delayed again, but the airport hopes that Fiji Airways’ decision will prompt others to follow suit. Singapore Airlines, the other international airline that flew in and out of Canberra before the pandemic, has yet to announce any date for a return.
Canberra Airport CEO, Stephen Byron, says that the airport’s success in attracting Fiji Airways is a step towards rebuilding the aviation industry after a challenging year. “We are pleased that Fiji Airways will commence services between Canberra and Nadi in June, and we are confident that this service will provide a real boost for the tourism industry,” he said.
Fiji Airways CEO, Andre Viljoen, said that the airline was excited to return to Canberra, with the direct flights opening up new travel options for Canberrans and Fijians. “We believe there is significant demand for a service to Canberra and are looking forward to providing travelers with our world-renowned Fijian hospitality,” he said.
The new flights are expected to operate twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays, using the Airbus A350-900 aircraft. Tickets will go on sale from 19th April.
Shortage of air traffic controllers: Airlines slash their flights out of New York and Washington
Private jet flights in Europe last year rose 64% to 572,806 flights last year