As Airline Celebrates its Staff and Awards, Fiji Airways Will Soar to Greater Heights, says Viljoen
MERELEKI NAI NADI
Fiji Airways has cause to celebrate and recognise its staff.
With the airline industry facing high fuel prices, weakening macro-economic conditions, increased competition and softening passenger demand, Fiji Airways stepped up to soar even greater heights.
Fiji Airways managing director and chief executive officer, Andre Viljoen expressed these sentiments as they celebrated the one month anniversary of the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards.
The celebration was held at the Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa Ballroom on Denarau in Nadi on Friday. Mr Viljoen said the achievement at the SKYTRAX Awards in Paris was a testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication shared by the entire Fiji Airways team.
“But I’m confident that with our World Class Team and an unwavering desire to excel, we will step up once again and to ensure Fiji Airways soars to even greater heights,” Mr Viljoen said.
“As we look to the future, there is much to be excited about and we are treating every challenge as a unique opportunity which we are embracing with enthused vitality.”
Below are the achievements outlined by Mr Viljoen:
3-year Journey and Investment
Mr Viljoen said three years ago Fiji Airways set in motion a strategic vision to transform the airline into a World Class Airline.
“An airline that could compete on the global stages, in terms of the ‘inflight
experience’ but also ‘pre and post’ travel on the ground,” he said. “This was an ambitious task. To realise our vision would involve significant investment in our fleets, product and our team.
“It was not going to be easy, but success rarely is and within our industry, a major benchmark of success is the SKYTRAX Airline Rankings.
“So collectively we set a target to be recognised as a 4-Star airline within three years.”
This is a mark of distinction that recorgnise an airline’s unwavering commitment to provide high quality products and services both onboard and on the ground.
The SKYTRAX Awards
By rising to a 4-Status, Mr Viljoen said they would join a selected group of elite airlines in this prestigious category.
At the same SKYTRAX World Airlines Awards in Paris, Fiji Airways also leapfrogged from 4th to 1st place to take the ‘Best Airline Staff in Australia Pacific’ award.
Beating out airlines like Qantas, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia in this category to claim the top awards.
“To build a World Class airline it takes a World Class Team and that is what we have,” he added.
“We join highly esteemed airlines such as Emirates, British Airways, Etihad, Air New Zealand and Qantas.
“Regardless of your role, each and every one of you has played your part.
“These accolades are for all of you.
Support of Suppliers
“We look forward to supporting you all the way through to the Rugby World Cup in Japan and beyond.
“Just like the Flying Fijians, we will support our fearless Paralympian all the way through to the Paralympics Games in Tokyo in 2020.”