Fiji Airways Suspends A Route To Australia

Fiji Airways is making further cuts to its international network, suspending a service from Australia from early 2027.

The carrier will suspend its Nadi (NAN) to Canberra (CBR) flights during the Northern Winter 2026/27 schedule, ending the only direct link from Australia’s capital to Fiji.

Beyond removing the direct link between Canberra and Fiji, the suspension also removes another one-stop option for customers travelling onward to North American destinations.

Fiji Airways To Suspend Canberra Service From Early 2027

According to Russell Shaw, the airline’s Chief Network, Revenue and Alliances Officer, the final departure from Canberra is on 31 January 2027, with the suspension temporary. However, there is no confirmed resumption date yet.

Shaw said the Canberra service would be suspended from 5 February 2027, as part of the ongoing network review.

The reviews are ongoing and will help the airline identify markets where it can deliver the strongest performance while creating a positive impact for Fiji. Additionally, the business must find profitable markets to ensure stability during volatile operating conditions.

Canberra is another market in which Fiji Airways has either withdrawn entirely or reduced frequencies to address underperformance. The review tracks downturns in demand and where there may still be some requirement, but at the current rate, a connection cannot be justified under the operating environment, amid increasing pressure.

The Fiji carrier says it will contact passengers who booked flights after the suspension date and offer alternative travel via Sydney or a full refund. While Fiji Airways exits Canberra, it will continue serving Sydney (SYD) and Melbourne (MEL), the closest alternatives.

Service Ends Three Years After Launch

Fiji Airways flights between Nadi and Canberra are still relatively new, with service beginning on 21 July 2023 and marking the restoration of scheduled international flights for Canberra Airport after demand collapsed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The route operated only twice a week at launch, on Tuesdays and Fridays, before Fiji Airways increased the schedule to three weekly flights following early positive feedback and customer demand.

Fiji Airways operated the route with the Boeing 737-8, stretching the limits of the single-aisle aircraft. The flights carried not just point-to-point leisure traffic; with Canberra as Australia’s capital and home of Parliament, they also supported broader economic and political ties between the two nations.

Ultimately, the suspension of Fiji Airways is impactful in itself, as it removes access to another Australian city, but for the people of Canberra, the route strategically made a difference to international market access. Losing the carrier, even temporarily, reduces the capital’s international connectivity.