The former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer will be stepping down from his role effective October, although he will remain on the Board of Directors after his transition.
Mr. Viljoen’s visionary ‘Future-Fit Ready Strategy’ is credited with ensuring the airline’s survival during COVID and rapid recovery once borders reopened.
He also led the development of the airline’s world-class Aviation Academy, now home to four state-of-the-art full-flight simulators.
This initiative not only enhanced cost efficiency but also raised the standard of pilot training by supporting more Fijians to become captains and attracting major third-party clients such as Air Tahiti, Cathay Pacific and Qantas.
Under his stewardship annual revenue has also grown significantly, from FJ$ 815.3 million in 2015 to FJ$ 1.9 billion in 2024.
The fleet has doubled in size, from 12 aircraft in 2015 to 24 today, including four new generation Airbus A350s, widely recognised as among the most modern and fuel-efficient commercial aircraft in the world.
“On behalf of the Board and the entire Fiji Airways Group, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Andre for his outstanding leadership over the past 10 years,” said Mr. Nalin Patel, Chairman of Fiji Airways.
“Under his stewardship, Fiji Airways has undergone a remarkable transformation.”
