The importance of the North American market to Fiji Airways has been further highlighted with the announcement of an interline agreement with Canadian carrier Porter Airlines. The Fijian airline and Toronto-based Porter will connect in Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco allowing customers to travel on a single ticket to and from Canada.
“Our bookings to and from North America have been strong, collectively making up the second-largest group of visitors to Fiji in 2023. Many of these guests are flying in from other cities to catch our flights out of the three ports that Fiji Airways serves,” said Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andre Viljoen.
Fiji Airways began a year-round, non-stop service from Vancouver to Nadi in November 2022. With the announcement of the interline agreement with Porter Airlines, North American passengers will not only be able to reach Fiji Airways’ home but also destinations in Australia and New Zealand.
Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Porter Airlines, Edmond Eldebs, stated, “This new partnership offers passengers seamless connections between Fiji Airways and Porter at key locations along the West Coast of North America. It improves access for Canadians to destinations across the Pacific, and for passengers originating on Fiji flights to reach points across Eastern Canada.”
Porter’s Recent Expansion
Porter Airlines has expanded in recent years with the addition of Embraer E195-E2 aircraft into the carrier’s fleet and offers over 30 destinations in its network. This expansion now sees the airline operating from its traditional base of Toronto’s city airport, Billy Bishop, and Pearson International in addition to key operations out of Ottawa, Montréal and Halifax.
In early 2023, the carrier announced a partnership with Montréal-Saint Hubert Airport (YHU) to develop facilities at what the airline said at the time would provide ‘incredible potential as a complementary secondary airport for Montréal.’
In recent weeks, Porter Airlines announced the commencement of nonstop services from Canada’s second-largest city Montréal to all three Fiji Airways connection points, Vancouver, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The service from Montreal Trudeau International began earlier this month and the services to LAX and SFO commence on June 27 and 28 respectively.
“We are excited to launch this interline partnership with Porter Airlines which creates easier access, and more travel options for customers traveling to and from the important and growing list of markets Porter serves,” Fiji Airways’ Viljoen added. “This partnership means that families in various parts of the two countries can realistically consider a holiday in Fiji. Fiji is an ideal holiday destination for anyone looking for sun, sand, sea with a vast variety of local experiences and culinary delights. Paradise is closer than you thought possible.”
