Fiji Airways To Launch New U.S. Flights?

Fiji Airways has received immediate authority to expand its scheduled and charter operations in the United States following approval from the Department of Transportation.

The Nadi-based carrier now has stronger, broader rights that allow it to serve the market even as its amended foreign air carrier permit continues through the relevant approval process.

The order issued on 19 August 2026 doesn’t include a new route; however, for Fiji Airways, it removes a vital regulatory constraint that will support easier access to the United States should further expansion be desired.

Fiji Airways Gets the U.S. Nod of Approval

According to the Department of Transportation’s order in Docket DOT-OST 2026-2905, Fiji Airways, which trades as Air Pacific Limited, was granted a further two-year exemption authorising scheduled and charter passenger, cargo and mail services from points behind, via and on past Fiji to those destinations in the United States.

The exemption for Fiji Airways also grants cargo and mail authority between the United States and any other points, plus charter rights, subject to the Department’s prior approval. The latest decision now takes effect immediately and is valid for two years from the order date.

As part of the review process to determine whether the airline would be granted the rights, the Department found that Fiji Airways was qualified not only financially but also operationally. The decision stated that Fijian interests substantially owned and effectively controlled the airline, with no objections filed against the application.

No New Routes as Yet

As Fiji Airways also works through the remaining requirements for its amended permit, there has yet to be a firm announcement on plans to expand in the United States. The carrier already operates to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and Honolulu (HNL).

Fiji Airways’ U.S. operations have also been structured to benefit passengers travelling from Australia and New Zealand via Nadi, as well as connecting traffic onto American Airlines’ domestic network.

Fiji Airways’ most recent U.S. schedule changes have been anything but an expansion. The decision to suspend flights between Nadi and Dallas Fort Worth from 5 September 2026 will end the U.S. route linking American Airlines and its hubs after nearly two years.

Nadi to Dallas Fort Worth flights were initially operated on the Airbus A350-900 three times weekly, improving access to the Texas hub. However, the withdrawal comes amid changing demand and higher operating costs, creating unexpected headwinds in 2026.

While Fiji Airways remains committed to markets like Los Angeles and San Francisco for the moment, deepening its presence in the United States appears difficult, even with the latest approval. Removing regulatory barriers opens the door if conditions stabilise, but for now Fiji Airways continues to reduce the number of cities it serves rather than add more.