With a fleet of just 23 aircraft (including its subsidiary), Fiji Airways is a relatively small airline. It was somewhat surprising, then, when the airline announced last year that it intended to become a member of the Oneworld alliance. Until now, Fiji Airways had only been affiliated as an Oneworld Connect partner, offering very limited benefits.

Shortly after the initial announcement, it was stated that the membership would take effect in 2025. Now, the time has come: the integration has been successfully completed. This brings several advantages for all Oneworld frequent flyers:

• Oneworld status holders now receive lounge access, additional baggage allowance, and other benefits when flying with Fiji Airways.
• (Almost) all Oneworld frequent flyer programs now offer award and status miles for flights with Fiji Airways. Previously, only selected programs had partnerships.
• Conversely, frequent flyer miles from Oneworld loyalty programs can now be redeemed for flights with Fiji Airways.

Until now, Fiji Airways has not had its own full-fledged frequent flyer program, only the paid Tabua Club. As part of the Oneworld integration, Fiji Airways has now adopted American Airlines’ AAdvantage as its official loyalty program. However, the aforementioned benefits also apply to Alaska Mileage Plan, British Airways Club, Finnair Plus, and other programs.

Fiji Airways’ Route Network

Fiji Airways currently operates a fleet of 14 aircraft, including four Airbus A330s, four Airbus A350s, one Boeing 737, and five Boeing 737 MAX jets. These aircraft serve destinations in North America, Australia, and Asia, while also maintaining connectivity with neighbouring countries such as the Solomon Islands and Kiribati.

Fiji Airways also owns the subsidiary Fiji Link, which primarily operates domestic routes (as well as flights to Tonga and Tuvalu) using ATR turboprop aircraft. The following map displays all international routes operated by both airlines.

Conclusion

There has been significant movement among airline alliances recently. SAS switched from Star Alliance to SkyTeam, ITA Airways is moving in the opposite direction, and other changes are occurring worldwide. While Fiji Airways is relatively small, it is still a valuable addition to the Oneworld portfolio. Meanwhile, the attempt to establish Oneworld Connect as a looser affiliation model appears to have failed—Fiji Airways was the only participant, and the webpage for the program has been taken down.

It is impressive how quickly the small Pacific airline has managed to integrate into Oneworld. By contrast, Oman Air announced in 2022 that it would join the alliance in 2024, but that has yet to materialize—the latest target is now the second quarter of 2025.

Translated by Ditmar

Cover Picture: Fiji Airways Airbus A330 DQ-FJT in San Francisco International Airport (SFO) | © Miklós Budai 2019