They have been named an APEX World Class Airline for 2026, the most prestigious recognition in global aviation, with only 10 airlines in the world receiving this honour. Fiji Airways is also the only airline in Oceania to be recognised.
“This recognition is a proud and historic moment for the airline and for Fiji,” said Andre Viljoen, Managing Director and CEO of Fiji Airways.
“In 2016, we were ranked outside the world’s Top 100 airlines. Today, through sheer grit, relentless innovation and the unbreakable spirit of our people, we have risen to be named one of the Top 10 Airlines in the World.
“This recognition is not just an award, it’s about showing every Fijian and every member of our team that we can achieve the impossible. We are the David in a world of Goliaths – and we are winning.”
Achieving this recognition required one of the most extensive transformation efforts in the airline’s history.
It meant a complete overhaul of the inflight experience, procuring brand new galley and service equipment, building new supply chains for freshly sourced produce, working with local Fijian businesses and manufacturers, both small and large, and introducing an entirely new suite of premium products onboard.
Months were spent developing the Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine and redesigning every part of the service flow, while hundreds of cabin crew underwent up to two weeks of intensive training.
Sixteen of the best cabin crew were selected to become World Class Trainers, completing a 10-week program before leading the training across the airline.
“It was a massive undertaking that required months of preparation, dedication and teamwork before the very first World Class flight took off,” said Viljoen.
“To excel, we cannot afford to be ordinary. We need to stand out, to be unmistakably remarkable and to create an experience so extraordinary that travellers choose Fiji Airways not just for where we fly, but for how we make them feel.
“As we look ahead, Fiji Airways remains focused on constant innovation and raising the bar even higher.”
