Will Fiji Airways (and others) make it?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: MFR
Programs: Alaska MVP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 664
Will Fiji Airways (and others) make it?
How confident would you be in booking a December 2020 trip on Fiji Airways? Or a similar smallish airline? It's hard to get a sense of their finances and outlook.
In the past I wouldn't have worried about it but the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance appears to no longer cover airlines going out of business.
Would booking through an OTA like Orbitz give more protection or just more pain if something happens to Fiji Airways?
In the past I wouldn't have worried about it but the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel insurance appears to no longer cover airlines going out of business.
Would booking through an OTA like Orbitz give more protection or just more pain if something happens to Fiji Airways?
#2
Join Date: Sep 2018
Programs: Alaska
Posts: 2,106
I thought credit cards have wised up against defunct airlines.
The airlines have to post collaterals to accept credit cards so that in case of bankruptcy, the credit card companies will refund the ticket automatically.
https://www.ecc.fi/en/themes/travell...goes-bankrupt/
How widely it is practised is the question.
The airlines have to post collaterals to accept credit cards so that in case of bankruptcy, the credit card companies will refund the ticket automatically.
https://www.ecc.fi/en/themes/travell...goes-bankrupt/
How widely it is practised is the question.
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong
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Posts: 14,547
I suggest you wait a few months before making any booking.
A lot of airlines, TAs and even banks are likely to go bankrupt or receive State bailout money. Wait till the summer, probably late summer, to see how the pandemic and economic aspects works out.
A lot of airlines, TAs and even banks are likely to go bankrupt or receive State bailout money. Wait till the summer, probably late summer, to see how the pandemic and economic aspects works out.
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 457
Virgin might be cutting flights to Fiji as might qantas, which is all good for fiji air. Far more chnace of big boys like qantas falling over.
#5
Join Date: Apr 1999
Location: Philippines
Programs: CebGo 5J, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum, Alaska 100K
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Fiji Airways will survive as it is the core engine for regional tourism, majority government owned and a lifeline to many islands not just within Fiji but also to Kirabati, Tuvalu, Wallis etc etc. Besides, they take no Bula from anyone!
#6
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 457
air kiribati has 2 brand new e-jets. 90 seaters I think & long range, so some domestic Kiribati routes will be nonstop instead of having to go via Fiji. Kiribati is very spread out across the Pacific.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: MRY/SFO/SJC
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I booked on Priceline because it was impossible to book SJC WLG / BNE SJC on Fiji's website. My date of departure is tomorrow and I've not heard anything from either Priceline or Fiji about my refund request. Though, two weeks after my request, I called PL to follow up on the process. All they could see / tell me is that the request has been forwarded to FJ.
#8
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,674
The Australia and NZ government are talking about a travel "bubble" allowing freedom of movement between the two countries, which may be extended to several other island nations (in the SW Pacific), including leisure travel. If that happens, Fiji Airways, and Fiji will do very well out of Australia originating traffic, with at least some of the Bali crowd looking for somewhere else to go. But that may mean it is quite some time before the whole SW Pacific (including Australia, NZ, Fiji etc) opens up to US originating passengers, especially leisure traffic.
#9
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 457
Yes agreed, I'd be more concerned about travel restrictions into/through Fiji, especially if originating from the US.
The Australia and NZ government are talking about a travel "bubble" allowing freedom of movement between the two countries, which may be extended to several other island nations (in the SW Pacific), including leisure travel. If that happens, Fiji Airways, and Fiji will do very well out of Australia originating traffic, with at least some of the Bali crowd looking for somewhere else to go. But that may mean it is quite some time before the whole SW Pacific (including Australia, NZ, Fiji etc) opens up to US originating passengers, especially leisure traffic.
The Australia and NZ government are talking about a travel "bubble" allowing freedom of movement between the two countries, which may be extended to several other island nations (in the SW Pacific), including leisure travel. If that happens, Fiji Airways, and Fiji will do very well out of Australia originating traffic, with at least some of the Bali crowd looking for somewhere else to go. But that may mean it is quite some time before the whole SW Pacific (including Australia, NZ, Fiji etc) opens up to US originating passengers, especially leisure traffic.
Corona has been blown way out of proportion. It's just another version of SARS. a Bad one.
6 deaths in Queensland in what 3 months ?
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
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If anyone is reading this advice, please do some extra research on the internet. The PM of Australia has suggested there may be some relaxation by end of 2020. I can't see US travel to Australia being open to by July without quarantine. It simply isn't going to happen.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 19,664
AU<----->NZ travel July August a good possibility.
In USA 100's of people are still dying every day from COVID-19, with no signs of slowing down
https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/t...hs-per-million
USA 259.53 deaths per million of population
NZ 4.36 deaths per million of population
AU 3.84 deaths per million of population
Back on topic: For the Fiji government the survival of FJ Airways is important for tourism, when that starts again.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_Airways
#12
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Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 457
He's a politician. He wants OZ economy to recover ASAP.
What research ? This is nothing to research. Pollies will say something different tomorrow, like you've all been so good, we're reopening everything.
#13

Join Date: Jul 2017
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I agree with others, FJ being majority government owned is very likely to survive. They dominate in a market unserved by most other major carriers (bar QF, VA, NZ, and KE), and is also a backbone of the Fijian economy. They also serve several smaller countries without airlines like Tuvalu and Tonga.
Additionally, the fact that -during their Air Pacific days- they have been operating with losses year after year, says something about the Fijian Government's support for FJ.
Additionally, the fact that -during their Air Pacific days- they have been operating with losses year after year, says something about the Fijian Government's support for FJ.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BHD/DUB
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Posts: 351
I would be comfortable booking with Air Kiribati, Fiji Airways, Aircalin, Air Tahiti Nui, and quite a few more airline from Oceania, as they are backed by their respective governments. I would be more concerned about some routes being cancelled, than the airline ceasing operations.
#15
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: asia miles
Posts: 391
That's surely a good new for people having to travel between Tarawa and Kiritimati. But how many people (besides officials) really do that trip? I hope they can make it work but... I am not so sure if Fiji airways would really fly to Kiritimati if it was not on the route between NAN and HNL