Fiji Airways now ‘focused on survival’ after bumper year in 2019

Fiji Airways had a bumper year in 2019, increasing its revenue, profit and passenger numbers despite high-priced fuel, foreign exchange fluctuations and increased competition from major shareholder Qantas, but 2020 saw the airline enter survival mode after the Covid-19 pandemic struck. Group operating profit before tax for the year ended 31 December 2019 was up 17.8% to F$58.9m ($27.6m) from F$50m in the previous financial year. Profit before tax increased 10.7% to F$61.2m from F$55.3m in 2019. Over the same period, group revenue increased by 9%, from F$1.02b to F$1.12b, crossing the F$1b mark for the second consecutive year. Passenger numbers rose by 2% “despite the significant impact of [our 46% shareholder] Qantas commencing flights from Sydney to Nadi in March 2019”. Fiji and its subsidiaries carried 1.7m passengers in 2019, compared to 1.67m passengers during the previous financial year. The airline says it increased frequencies to “most destinations” in 2019 and completed its first full year of services to Tokyo. The airline concluded six new codeshare agreements with Alaska Airlines, Air India, British Airways, Finnair, Japan Airlines and Singapore Airlines, growing its network to 20 direct destinations, and increasing its total destination reach (including codeshares) from 69 to 108 destinations. Story has more.<br/>