Livery of the Week: Fiji Airways

Editor’s Note: AirlineGeeks is excited to launch our ‘Livery of the Week’ series. Every Friday, a team member will share an airline livery, which can be from the past, present, or even a special scheme. Some airline liveries are works of art. The complexity associated with painting around critical flight components and the added weight requires outside-the-box thinking from designers. The average airliner can cost upwards of $200,000 to repaint, creating a separate aircraft repainting industry as a result.

Influenced by its tropical domicile, Fiji Airways’ striking livery adorns a fleet of 14 aircraft. The livery debuted in 2013 following a rebranding effort from the Air Pacific name.

A part of the Air Pacific Group – which has various government and private owners – Fiji Airways and its subsidiary Fiji Link operate over 400 flights per week to 10 countries. From its home base at Nadi International Airport, the airline uses A350 and A330 aircraft to serve long-haul markets, such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sydney.

Fiji Airways was the name of the airline between 1951 and 1970. The name was changed to ‘Air Pacific’ in 1970, according to a press release. The airline reverted back to its 1950s-era name while also debuting a vibrant paint scheme.

The ‘Very Best Flying Ambassador’

Even though Fiji Airways’ livery is largely white across aircraft fuselages, it features artful designs. The livery is an ode to the carrier’s Pacific Island roots.

TheDesignAir describes it best. On the outside of each aircraft, three Masi motifs will represent Fiji Airways. The distinctive ‘Teteva’ symbol is designed by renowned Fijian Masi artist Makereta Matemosi, serving as the airline’s main logo design.

Located on the tail of Fiji Airways’ aircraft, the symbol represents the friendliness and caring nature of Fijians. Also on the engines, the ‘Rova’ motif symbolizes the warm greeting Fijians extend to visitors, according to TheDesignAir.

Fiji Airways first Airbus A350. (Photo: Airbus)

Fiji Airways’ CEO David H. Pflieger Jr. at the time was quoted as saying: “Our mission was to create a proud symbol that would stand out at some of the world’s busiest international airports, a symbol that would allow us to become the very best ‘Flying Ambassador’ that Fiji could ever have.”

The airline recently rolled out the detailed design on a fleet of brand-new A350-900XWB aircraft.

Across the airline industry, a wide-reaching trend has emerged, dubbed ‘Eurowhite,’ where airlines paint their aircraft mostly all-white to save costs. Fiji Airways makes up for a predominantly white fuselage with a colorful and intently-made design on its tail and engines.

Looking for a new airplane model? Head over to our friends at the Midwest Model Store for a wide selection of airlines and liveries. 

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Ryan Ewing

Ryan founded AirlineGeeks.com back in February 2013 and has amassed considerable experience in the aviation sector. His work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Ryan has experience in several facets of the industry from behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing airline industry executives. Ryan works for AirlineGeeks' owner FLYING Media, spearheading coverage in the commercial aviation space.

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