| Image: Boeing |
Fiji Airways will restore Adelaide route in July after a three years hilt. The airline plans to operat flights twice a week between Adelaide and Nadi on Monday, July 4th using Boeing 737MAX8. The much-needed international route to Adelaide will be only 737MAX service into the city.
Fiji Airways suspended the flights of this route in July 2019, way before the pandemic after less than two years of the start of the service. Fiji Airways attributed the suspension due to aircraft shortage. But industry specialists suggested that the marginal service suspended due to late night departures and early morning arrivals were not favored among customers of the route and did not generate sales.
Now, after three years, Fiji Airways is back to the route with flight times much "passenger-friendly". Flight FJ961 will depart Nadi airport (NAN) every Monday and Thursday at 07:15. The flight will cover the distance of 2,665 miles (4,289 kilometers) to Adelaide in six hours and 35 minutes, landing in Adelaide (ADL) at 11:20.
The 737MAX8 will spend 75 minutes on the apron before it operate flight FJ960 back to its home in Nadi. The 737MAX8 will push-back in Adelaide at 12:35, heads east to touch down in Nadi at 20:35.
Fiji Airways operates a fleet of five Boeing 737MAX8s, the airline took delivery of the first MAX8 in 2018. But since then, this fleet spent much of its life on the ground due to global grounding of the type, following of two deadly crashes and 346 fatalities. Later, the pandemic hit the world and lockdowns were everywhere.
The narrowbody, single aisle jet seats 170 passengers eight in recliner-style business class seats. Fiji Airways will be the first airline to operate the type into Adelaide.
Fiji Airways is already operating flights to Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide will be the airline's fourth destination in Australia.
