Fiji Airways To Retire Airbus A330s

Fiji Airways is looking to significantly streamline its operations over the coming years, and as part of those plans, the airline will formally retire the A330 fleet.

The airline has just three A330s in service based on current fleet data. However, the airline’s CEO, Andre Viljoen, told Forbes and Ramsey Quebin that the business sees three owned A330-200s and one leased A330-300.

Ultimately, the retirement of these Airbus A330s is expected to start in the upcoming years. However, the airline will not replace the A330s with the currently operational A350s. Instead, Fiji Airways must decide how to replace the A330 internally.

The Airbus A330 has been a cornerstone at Fiji Airways for some time, and the jet was important long before the A350’s arrival in international markets. Thanks to the A350’s arrival, however, Fiji Airways has begun to understand the true capabilities of the next-generation aircraft.

A Fiji Airways Airbus A350-900 in Los Angeles (Photo: Mark Murdock)

The Airbus A330, at over 10 years of average age, isn’t old by any means, but for Fiji Airways, alignment with other next-generation jets is essential. Alongside a commitment to the Airbus A350, the company has also integrated the 737 MAX into its network for single-isle operations.

Fiji Airways says that the 737 is great on markets towards Australia and New Zealand that don’t require the A350, so the Airbus widebody is ideal for more long-range services.

Following the pandemic, the company has emerged as an attractive option for customers travelling across the Pacific. Fiji Airways’ price point means for those heading to markets such as Australia from North America or vice versa, the stopover in Fiji presents a cheaper alternative to nonstop flights.

Fiji Airways hopes to convert more of those transit travellers to travellers who come to stay. By adding more next-generation aircraft, such as the A350, the carrier wants to continue elevating service levels.

Replacing the A330 will not be easy, but the company’s team will do their due diligence before selecting the best replacement.