A Fiji airline.

Fiji Airways Celebrates Historic Win as APEX World Class 2026 Arline

Our Bureau - : Sep 12, 2025 - : 8:23 pm

Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji, has won the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award, an aviation success story that puts the airline firm among the top 10 in the world. Fiji Airways also took home the award for Innovation...

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Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji, has won the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award, an aviation success story that puts the airline firm among the top 10 in the world.

Fiji Airways also took home the award for Innovation Award for Best Inflight Food/Beverage 2026. The airline recently launched a new Pacific Rim menu, alongside on-demand Business Class dining and refreshed Economy service.

The airline company, known as the smallest by fleet size to ever earn this honor—and the only carrier in Oceania to be recognized—achieved World Class status through its determination to secure a place on the global stage, differentiate itself, and prove that a small airline from a small island nation can compete with the very best.

Andre Viljoen, managing director and CEO of Fiji Airways, described the recognition as a proud and historic moment for the airline and for Fiji.

"In 2016, we were ranked outside the world's Top 100 airlines. Today, through sheer grit, relentless innovation, and the unbreakable spirit of our people, we have risen to be named one of the Top 10 Airlines in the World. This recognition is not just an award, it's about showing every Fijian, and every member of our team, that we can achieve the impossible. We are the David in a world of Goliaths - and we are winning," said Viljoen.

Viljoen said achieving this recognition required one of the most extensive transformation efforts in the airline’s history, including a complete overhaul of the inflight experience, new galley and service equipment, fresh supply chains with local Fijian businesses, and the introduction of a new suite of premium onboard products.

He explained that months were spent developing the Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine and redesigning every part of the service flow, while hundreds of cabin crew underwent up to two weeks of intensive training.

At the same time, Viljoen cited sixteen of the best cabin crew were selected to become World Class Trainers, completing a 10-week program before leading the training across the airline.

"It was a massive undertaking that required months of preparation, dedication, and teamwork before the very first World Class flight took off",said Viljoen.

He added: "To excel, we cannot afford to be ordinary. We need to stand out, to be unmistakably remarkable, and to create an experience so extraordinary that travellers choose Fiji Airways not just for where we fly, but for how we make them feel.”

The APEX World Class Award is determined through independent audits and global passenger feedback, assessing excellence in safety, sustainability, well-being, service, and customer experience.

Since its big rebrand in 2013, Fiji Airways has grown significantly. It recently announced record annual profits and revenues for 2023, with 2.2 million passengers carried on its flights.

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