The Blue Swan Daily – September 6, 2019
Fiji Airways plans to add premium capacity to Los Angeles and Sydney after it takes delivery of two Airbus A350-900s in late 2019. Capacity on its three long haul routes to East Asia – Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore – is also expected to increase as some flights are up-gauged from A330-200s to A330-300s.
The airline announced in May-2019 the lease of two A350-900s from DAE Capital. Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen told CAPA on the sidelines of the Jun-2019 IATA AGM the aircraft will be used on daily services to Sydney and Los Angeles. The airline currently operates two daily flights from Nadi to Sydney using a mix of 737-700s, 737-800s, A330-200s and A330-300s. Los Angeles is served once daily with a mix of A330-200s and A330-300s.
Los Angeles has been served with A330s since 2013, when Fiji Airways replaced 747-400s with smaller A330-200s. Fiji Airways took delivery of a larger A330-300 in 2015 and mainly has used this aircraft for Los Angeles although it is also currently deployed on some Hong Kong and Sydney flights.
Mr Viljoen said the use of A330s on Los Angeles is not ideal as it has limited cargo capacity. The A330 also has proven recently to be too small for Los Angeles given the increase in passenger demand, including premium demand.
Fiji Airways’ new fleet of A350-900s will have 301 economy and 33 business class seats compared to 289 economy and 24 business class seats on the A330-300s. It has three A330-200s with 249 economy seats and 24 business class seats and two A330-200s with 236 economy seats and 18 business class seats.
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