The first flight from Nadi landed on the Gold Coast at 11am with a slew of VIPs onboard, including Fiji’s Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, Fiji Airways managing director, Paul Scurrah, and Queensland Airports Limited CEO, Amelia Evans.
The first flight from the Gold Coast to Nadi departed at 12:30pm.
The return service will operate three times a week, on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays on a Boeing 737 MAX 8, which has 162 economy seats and eight in business class.
The new thrice-weekly service will add 53,000 seats a year between the two destinations.
“Since announcing this route, demand has been exceptional with strong forward bookings and today that excitement finally becomes a reality,” said Scurrah.
“We are delighted to bring our world-class hospitality to every Gold Coaster who steps on board, and as we pursue our vision to become the world’s happiest airline, this new connection is another proud step in that journey.”
With Fiji Airways offering direct services from Nadi to several North American destinations, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Vancouver, the new services also add another link between the Gold Coast and one of its key international visitor markets.
“This marks a new chapter for the Gold Coast, so it was incredibly special to be onboard and experience firsthand the connection we’ve worked so hard to deliver,” said Evans.
“We continue to see growing demand for more international services from Gold Coast Airport, driven by the region’s growing population, affluence and global reputation.
“Fiji is a popular destination in its own right and also an important hub, making it easier for international visitors to better access the Gold Coast from key markets like Los Angeles, Honolulu and Canada.
“This is a valuable addition to our growing network, particularly as we look toward the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when Gold Coast Airport will play an important role as an international gateway.”
The new flights received support from the $75 million Connecting Queensland Fund.
Queensland’s tourism minister, Andrew Powell, said the new service was “a pathway to growth, unlocking new opportunities for international travellers and delivering a boost to local businesses”.
