Fiji Airways Opens Direct Flight to Cairns
Fiji Airways has officially launched its inaugural direct flight from Nadi International Airport to Cairns Airport, marking a significant milestone in the airline’s expansion strategy and offering new opportunities for travelers and the regional economy. Flight FJ 971 departed Nadi on April 10, 2025, at 09:08 local time, departing approximately 30 minutes behind schedule. Operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, the flight touched down at Cairns Airport at 11:43 local time after a journey that lasted just over four hours. The new service was celebrated with traditional Fijian dancers welcoming the aircraft upon arrival, setting a festive tone for what the airline describes as a game-changing route.
This direct service is a year-round operation scheduled to run three times weekly, providing passengers from Queensland and the Cairns region with an unprecedented one-stop connection to key destinations in the United States and Canada. Travelers can now seamlessly connect from Cairns to major North American hubs such as Los Angeles International Airport, San Francisco International Airport, Dallas Fort Worth Airport, and Vancouver International Airport. Prior to this launch, passengers had to travel to another Australian port to access these long-haul flights, a process that often added nearly three extra hours to their travel time. Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker highlighted the strategic alignment of this route with Fiji Airways’ Dallas-Fort Worth schedule, noting that the improved connectivity will make destinations like Los Angeles and San Francisco reachable within 16 hours, significantly reducing the overall journey duration and streamlining travel for many passengers.
In addition to transforming travel options for leisure and business travelers, the new Nadi-Cairns route is expected to provide a substantial boost to Fiji’s growing medical tourism sector. The Fijian government has been actively promoting the island nation as a premier destination for affordable medical care. Hospitals near Nadi, such as the 130-bed Pacific Specialist Healthcare facility, offer complex procedures including open heart surgeries at a fraction of the cost charged in Australia. This strategic initiative is further supported by government incentives such as tax breaks for hospital infrastructure and duty-free entry for specialized medical equipment. The new route not only offers improved travel convenience but also plays a vital role in facilitating the transport of patients and critical medical equipment, further integrating air travel with healthcare services.
The economic impact of this new service is expected to be significant. Cairns Airport estimates that the direct flight will inject approximately 53,000 seats into the market each year and generate an estimated boost of AU$62 million (around US$38.4 million) to the Cairns economy over the first three years. The enhanced connectivity is anticipated to attract more visitors to the region, improve tourism flows, and stimulate local business activity, thereby reinforcing Cairns’ position as a key gateway for travel between Australia and North America.
Fiji Airways’ commitment to expanding its network with innovative routes like the Nadi to Cairns service underscores the airline’s focus on providing efficient, comfortable, and competitive travel options. With this new route, passengers not only enjoy faster travel times but also benefit from improved connections that open up a world of possibilities, making it easier than ever to explore distant destinations or access essential healthcare services in Fiji.
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