FIJI Airways is marking a major milestone as it celebrates 10 years of connecting Fiji and San Francisco, a route that has become a cornerstone of the airline’s North American network and a vital gateway between the South Pacific and the United States.
Since launching services in June 2016, the San Francisco route has strengthened tourism, trade, and connectivity between Fiji and the United States, while providing travellers with seamless access to Fiji Airways’ Pacific network and onward global connections through its oneworld alliance partners. Over the past decade, the service has operated more than 2,300 flights and carried over half a million passengers between Fiji and San Francisco, reflecting sustained demand and double-digit passenger growth across the route's history. San Francisco was a deliberate choice from the outset – a major Pacific Rim market with strong demand from leisure travellers and a key node for onward connections.
The route also serves the large and vibrant Pacific Islander and Fijian diaspora across the San Francisco Bay Area and the wider West Coast, reinforcing important cultural, family and community connections between North America and the Pacific.
The service currently operates three weekly flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with a fourth weekly service during peak travel periods, supporting both direct visitor arrivals and onward travel across the Pacific, including to Australia and New Zealand.
Paul Scurrah, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fiji Airways, said the anniversary reflects the strength of the airline’s long-standing connection with the United States.
“For the past decade, our San Francisco service has played a vital role in connecting Fiji with one of the world’s most important aviation and tourism markets supporting visitor arrivals, strengthening trade links and enhancing connectivity between Fiji, North America and the wider Pacific. The North American market represents our biggest long-term potential for growth, not just for Fiji Airways but for Fiji's tourism industry, and this milestone is a reminder of how far we have come. As the World's Happiest Airline, we are proud to continue sharing the warmth and spirit of Fiji with every customer who travels this route," Mr Scurrah said.
Dr Paresh Pant, Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Fiji, said the San Francisco service has been instrumental in strengthening Fiji’s presence in the North American market.
“Direct connectivity is one of the most important enablers of tourism growth, and over the past decade the San Francisco route has played a significant role in strengthening Fiji’s presence in the United States and making the destination more accessible to American travellers. The service has supported our efforts of sustained growth from one of our most valuable visitor markets and helped deepen awareness of Fiji across North America. As we continue to grow visitor arrivals from the region, strong airline partnerships and strategic air connectivity will remain critical to Fiji’s tourism success. We congratulate Fiji Airways on this milestone and look forward to building on the opportunities this important route continues to create,” said Dr Pant.
"We congratulate Fiji Airways on 10 years of service at SFO and thank them for connecting the Bay Area with Fiji and the South Pacific," said Airport Director Mike Nakornkhet. "For the past decade, this route has strengthened tourism, business, and cultural ties between our regions. We look forward to supporting Fiji Airways' continued success at SFO."
Ten years of flying Nadi to San Francisco reflects a decade of opportunity for Fiji; for our tourism industry, our communities, and our people. For Fiji Airways, this milestone is also a foundation for the next decade of growth, as we continue carrying the warmth of Bula across the Pacific and beyond.
Source: Fiji Airways