Fiji Airways to begin replacing 737s with MAXs, widebodies

Fiji Airways plans to begin replacing its Boeing 737s with newer versions later this year, and is also evaluating wide-body replacements.

The airline said its first 737-8 is scheduled to arrive in November, with a second expected in December. The remainder of its five orders will come in 2019. These aircraft are slated to replace Fiji Airways’ current fleet of four 737-800s and one -700.

The -8s will serve short-haul markets in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere in the South Pacific, the carrier said. The new aircraft are subject to a sale-leaseback agreement with GE Capital Aviation Services.

In its earnings report for 2017, Fiji Airways also said it has started “an evaluation campaign to select a wide-body jet aircraft type to augment and/or replace existing Airbus A330 fleet.” The airline operates three A330-200s and one A330-300.

Fiji Airways Group reported a pre-tax profit of F$95.8 million ($47 million) in 2017, up from F$84.5 million in the previous year. This was a record for the carrier, and its fourth successive annual pre-tax profit.

The airline is majority owned by the Fijian government. It increased annual revenues by 12.5% to F$929 million, with passenger numbers increasing by 14.3% year-on-year.

(Adrian Schofield - ATWOnline News)