There’s no denying that Fiji Airways is on a roll, busy spreading its wings across the world. Fiji’s plucky and ambitious national carrier is now a serious, highly competitive airline player in the Pacific, directly connecting Nadi with over 25 international destinations in 15 countries and territories. Its international route network is nearly as comprehensive as Air New Zealand’s, who fly to 29 international destinations in 16 countries.  

Flying from Nadi to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, what I find particularly appealing about Fiji Airways expanded route network is that it offers a sharply-priced option for long-haul Trans-Pacific travel, whether you’re wishing to jet to Vancouver, Los Angeles, Dallas, San Francisco, Honolulu, Tokyo, Singapore or Hong Kong. Similarly, the airline offers a wide range of services to South Pacific destinations.  

Fiji Airways Boeing 737 Max 8. Photo / Supplied

Being based in Christchurch, I know many travellers begrudge the rigamarole entailed in having to fly to Auckland and then lug it between terminals to catch an onward international flight. Fiji Airways enables travellers on its Wellington and Christchurch services to avoid the Auckland faff entirely by zipping you direct to Nadi and connecting to its well-timed onward long-haul services. It’s seamless and stress-free. I’m just back from doing exactly that, flying from Christchurch to Los Angeles with a short transit at Nadi Airport. On the homeward run, I flew from Dallas to Nadi and opted to stayover for a few leisurely nights in the balmy, revitalising embrace of Fiji, before the quick hop home. 

Fiji Airways has been showered with accolades of late, including being named an APEX World Class Airline for 2026, thrusting it into the world’s top 10 carriers, alongside the likes of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. The airline also won the APEX 2026 Best Cabin Service Award, and also APEX 2026 going for Best Food & Beverage. AirlineRatings.com has also recognised Fiji Airways, ranking it among the world’s Top 25 Safest Full-Service Airlines (That’s out of 320 worldwide carriers). 

Fiji Airways Business Class Service on the 737 Max. Photo / Supplied

Fresh from Trans-Pacific flying with the airline, I can certainly see why Fiji Airways is cultivating such a winning reputation, across all touch points. Between New Zealand and Fiji, the Boeing 737 MAX fleet service the routes. Bula Space has been recently added to the cabin, which is the extra legroom seating option in economy class, if you want to stretch out. The 34-inch seat pitch certainly delivers more space than standard economy seats and Bula Space is available for purchase as part of seat selection.  

Long-haul routes, like my flights to Los Angeles and from Dallas, are serviced by the Airbus A350-900 XWB – my personal favourite aircraft, because they are decidedly quieter and smoother with state-of-the-art air quality. Bula Space is also available on the A350s. If premium comforts are a priority for you, Business class is also available across its global network, headlined by a new vibrant new Pacific Rim inspired menu and restaurant-quality presentation, whilst also heroing local Fijian ingredients. On long-haul flights, Business class guests can opt for the Dine on Demand experience, granting you freedom to choose what and when you want to eat. Across all flights in Economy class, meal services were consistently excellent with a great range of flavourful dining options. I particularly enjoyed their curries and also the waffles with custard and berries for breakfast! Economy guests can also indulge in a recently added mocktail and cocktail offering, hot chocolate and various snack and beverage choices, throughout the flight.  

Economy dining on Fiji Airways. Photo / Supplied

Similarly, across all flights, you certainly won’t be struggling for satisfying content from their extensive range on-demand entertainment options, with a very broad swag of movie, television, games and audio choices (840 hours of available content, to be precise, including blockbusters from Disney and HBO). I finally watched the F1 movie in-flight and enjoyed revisiting the last season of The White Lotus. All guests can enjoy complimentary text Wi-Fi plans onboard the airline’s A350-900 aircraft. For heavier browsing and streaming use, affordable Wi-Fi plans are available. Complimentary full-flight internet connectivity is available in Business class.   

Economy entertainment on board the Fiji Airways A350. Photo / Supplied

At Nadi Airport, I sampled Fiji Airways Premier Lounge and enjoyed a cracking breakfast buffet. The barista whipped me up a flawless flat white, too. It’s a beautifully appointed space, edged with a gorgeous vertical garden, with all the creature comforts you’d expect from a premium carrier. Business class guests have complimentary access to the lounge, although any Fiji Airways passenger can purchase lounge entry for $135FJD, subject to availability on the day. 

The CEO of Fiji Airways, Paul Scurrah, has declared his company’s vision is to be the “World’s Happiest Airline,” echoing the trademark warmth and ebullient hospitality synonymous with Fiji. Underpinning the world-class service and ambitious global network expansion, what really shines through is that effervescent, gregarious charm and personable attentiveness from the cabin crew. It’s an endearing encounter with sparkling hospitality, steeped in the authentic spirit of Fiji. I couldn’t fault anything about the inflight experience, reaffirming to me why it scooped the APEX World Class Airline Award (The smallest airline ever to do so). 

Fiji Airways A350 crew. Photo / Supplied

Sustainability is central to their ethos, with various hands-on initiatives geared at strengthening Fiji’s precious coastlines and contributing to a more climate-resilient Fiji. Giving back to the environment, the airline is planting a lot of seedlings under their “Every Take-off, One Tree” initiative. Just a few months ago, airline staff planted 7000 mangrove seedlings and carried out a clean-up at Wailoaloa Beach, bringing their total plantings of mangrove seedlings to 96,000! That’s a lot of coastal restoration.  

Kiwis can fly return from New Zealand to Nadi from just NZ$739 (Lite) per person in economy class. Sale fares from New Zealand to Los Angeles return start at NZ$1599, or to Dallas Fort Worth from NZ$1899. Exclusive package holiday deals are also available.  

Mike Yardley is Newstalk ZB’s resident traveller and can be heard every week on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.