We are in the Bula Boom: Viljoen
We are experiencing the Bula Boom, we survived the pandemic and now we are thriving. We were miles ahead of many other Pacific Island Countries and indeed even much larger nations in other parts of the world. Andre Viljoen Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer.
The Fiji Airways bookings for the six months from October 2022 to March 2023 is 503, 741 compared to just over 400, 000 for the same period in 2019.
Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer Andre Viljoen made those remarks during the first anniversary of the border reopening celebration at the Nadi International Airport on Thursday.
To mark this event together with its stakeholders they unveiled the ‘I Love Fiji’ artwork at the airport complex.
Mr Viljoen said the bookings held (tickets sold) by people that will travel in the future from the start of December until the end of May is 30 percent ahead of 2019 bookings.
“That’s enormous and we still have 30 percent of our markets closed, Japan and Hong Kong and some South Pacific countries are opening up slowly,” Mr Vilijoen said.
“When I look at that 30 percent within that number, Australia is steady ahead of 2019 New Zealand one percent ahead and the US 10.5 percent, so really very exciting for us.
“For the last six months we have banked record cash compared to any period before that, so very heartening for us and gives us the stability to continue the pent up demand that we see.
“We also worked extensively durHe said it is a celebration of the resilience and strength of the country and all Fijians with the national
airline played an instrumental role.
“We are experiencing the Bula Boom, we survived the pandemic and now we are thriving. We were miles ahead of many other Pacific Island countries and indeed even much larger nations in other parts of the world.”
Fiji Airports CEO Rowan Chalmers said the aviation industry has been resilient and we will continue to work without industry partners to build back better for our customers and comminutes.
“Fiji Airports expect to return to 90 plus percent of operations and network capacity in 2023 as demand for travel and tourism recovers and this one year anniversary is a milestone for us in terms of getting back to the level of operations where we had left in 2019 before the coronavirus pandemic,” he said. He said that their peak passenger volume so far this year represents 97 per cent of the airport’s pre-pandemic passenger traffic during the same period in 2019, and Flight volume is at 83 percent of 2019 levels with air navigation operations at 71 per cent.
Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill said, “Incredible first year, one that all Fijians can be proud of and that has been noticed around the world.
“We opened before many markets, and stayed open, despite the initial challenges.
“Due to teamwork – through the Government, Fiji Airways and the industry all working together. Striking a balance between health and economic factors.”
Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association CEO Fantasha Lockington said, “We have shown that as a small Pacific Island Country – that with passion and resilience – we can work together to come out of adversity successfully. And we learnt that we should continue building on this resilience as a priority, to better prepare for future shocks.”
“Key to the success factor – we never gave up. And constantly pushed to be reopening ready with determination and focus, and once reopened – we never looked back,” she said.