Fiji Airways has announced a new promotional fare for flights between Canberra and Nadi International Airport. The promotional fare of $439 is for a return flight and does not include baggage, which would cost $60 extra.

Even with baggage, the cost of the return flight from Canberra is cheaper than direct flights to Nadi from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The airline’s “Fiji on sale” promo lists return fares from Sydney as $549, from Melbourne as $715, and from Brisbane as $579.

This announcement is significant as direct flights from Canberra to Nadi will be the first international flights out of the city since the pandemic forced airlines like Singapore and Qatar to pull out. The new direct flight route is set to begin in July and will be a four-hour flight, allowing passengers to start their holiday the moment they step on board.

The CEO of Fiji Airways, Andre Viljoen, said that the decision to launch the Canberra-Nadi route was based on extensive market research, indicating a demand for direct flights from Canberra to Fiji. Viljoen also expressed pride in Fiji Airways being able to fly to the capital of Australia, and being the first airline to offer direct flights to Nadi from Canberra.

The addition of two new Airbus A350s to Fiji Airways’ fleet has made this new service possible. The return of an international airline to Canberra is significant, as the city has been focused on resuming international flights since the pandemic began. Canberra’s Chief Minister, Andrew Barr, stated earlier this year that connecting the city internationally is a top priority, with a focus on resuming services to the Middle East and Singapore, and new services to the South Pacific and New Zealand.

This new development is significant for the Australian travel industry, as Fiji is among the top 10 countries for Australian international travel, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The hope is that Fiji Airways’ decision will prompt other airlines to follow suit and offer direct international flights from Canberra, boosting the city’s tourism industry and connecting Canberra more efficiently with the rest of the world.

Direct international flights are to return to Canberra, Australia

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