Reports from Fiji say that Fiji Airways’ managing director & CEO, Mr Andre Viljoen, welcomes that NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s government will look at international travel options when the state reaches 80%  double dose vaccinations.  The report adds that Fiji has been rolling out vaccinations and says it is on track to have the entire working population fully vaccinated by November 2021. Fiji Airways’ staff are now 97% fully vaccinated, with the entire workforce expected to reach the milestone by the end of October 2021, with all of the airline’s customer-facing staff already fully vaccinated.

“As we celebrate our 70th birthday, the best present we could receive is the knowledge that shortly we’ll welcome our Australian guests back onboard our aircraft with a big Fijian Bula,” said Mr Viljoen, adding, “We’re on track”, and “We’re the only airline in the Australia-Pacific region, and one of only a handful in the world, to achieve a Skytrax 5-Star COVID Safety rating, as well as the highest “DIAMOND” or Hospital Grade certification for APEX Health Safety powered by Simpliflying”.

He added, “With the processes and procedures we have put in place to ensure safe travel, there’s no reason we can’t realise that dream sooner rather than later.”

Mr Viljoen said Fiji’s vaccination rollout has helped accelerate the timeline, and a reopening framework was being finalised in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the COVID Response Management Team, comprising key Permanent Secretaries from across Government, adding, “Our flight schedules will be released immediately following an official announcement by the Government which outlines border requirements and travel framework”, and “One of these will undoubtedly be that visitors must be fully vaccinated, a position Fiji Airways strongly supports”.

He also said, “The world has changed and there will be a new normal for travel when most countries reopen their borders and we are ready for it”, adding, “Through our Travel Ready programme, Fiji Airways has attained two distinct awards that will give confidence to our customers when commercial flying resumes.”

Written by: John Alwyn-Jones

=======================================