Bula, Canberra! As temperatures drop in the national capital, direct flights to tropical Fiji are set to soar this winter.
Regular international flights will resume at Canberra Airport for the first time in over three years, since the start of the Covid pandemic in March 2020, with Fiji Airways today announcing a new direct route between Nadi and Canberra will take off in July.
The announcement follows discussions between the ACT Government and Fiji Airways over a number of months, including a delegation to Fiji in 2022.
The new route will operate twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 21 July 2023 to the end of September 2023, and three times a week from October 2023 onwards.
According to the airline’s website, fares start from $439 return.
Fiji Airways also operates direct flights from Nadi to Los Angeles and San Francisco in the US.
Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism, Viliame Gavoka joined ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, along with executives from the airline and airport, to announce the new service and “what it means for Canberra”.
According to Mr Barr, the new route is “a key milestone in re-establishing Canberra as a global aviation hub”.
“Prior to COVID-19, the US market was the second largest inbound market to the ACT for overnight visitation, and it was growing.
The US is a key business and economic partner for the ACT and I am sure the service will be well supported by the business, government and diplomatic community.
“The restoration and growth of direct air access into Canberra is a key priority for the ACT Government and will help grow the value of our visitor economy to $4 billion by 2030, a key priority in our T2030: ACT Tourism Strategy 2023-2030,” he said.
“I’d like to thank Fiji Airways, the Fijian Government and Canberra Airport for working closely with the ACT Government to support the new Canberra-Nadi connection.”
Canberra Airport Head of Aviation, Michael Thomson said it was a huge boost of confidence for the airport, after international flights ceased operating in March 2020, when pandemic restrictions began.
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