Fiji Airways may consider expanding to China this year as it explores adding more destinations to its network, says chief marketing and customer officer, Akuila Batiweti.
While responding to a question on China at the Fiji Tourism Convention in December, Mr Batiweti revealed that the national airline had to choose between expansion to China or Canada in 2022.
“When we brought in the A350s, we decided Vancouver over China,” Mr Batiweti said.
“We felt we’d get more revenue CONSISTENCY, CREDIBILITY, CONTENT.
Vilsoni-Raduva’s secrets to operational growth out of the Vancouver route.
“We needed somewhere that could connect the UK and Europe, besides what we had.”
“It’s not to say that China was not an opportunity; it’s part of the consideration for next (this) year along with a couple more destinations.”
North America remains a critical market for Fiji Airways.
The airline flies to North America via Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Vancouver and has considered adding other routes.
In an interview with Latte in 2022, Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer Andre Viljoen said the newly leased A350 aircraft could open opportunities to connect to more destinations in the US such as Dallas/ Fort Worth, Chicago and Houston.
Over the years, Fiji Airways expanded its footprint in the United States with interline partnerships that connected customers between flights with them and US carriers.
In October last year, the airline announced its new interline partner out of the US, JetBlue.
Mr Viljoen said the partnership would make it easier for American customers to connect to Fiji Airways flights out of Los Angeles and San Francisco; two major destinations for the airline.
“Research tells us that many Americans have a misconception that Fiji is too far away and difficult to get to,” he said.
“With this partnership, Fiji Airways has made it even more convenient to reach our Fijian paradise.
“We have been exploring innovative means to grow our footprint in the United States, and I am delighted that JetBlue has come on board as an interline partner.”
With this new partnership and more developments under consideration, there is even more potential for Fiji Airways to grow its market size in this region.
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