Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji and a proud member of the oneworld® alliance, has achieved a historic milestone, by winning the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award – the most prestigious recognition in global aviation that places the airline among the Top 10 Airlines in the World. It is the smallest airline by fleet size ever to earn this honour, and the only airline in Oceania to be recognised.
In a world dominated by global airline giants with extensive resources and vast fleet sizes, Fiji Airways has had to punch far above its weight to compete and grow. The airlines’ journey to World Class was driven by its determination to have a place on the world stage, to differentiate itself, and to prove that a small airline from a small island nation can soar with the very best.
The APEX World Class Award is judged through a rigorous process that combined independent audits with global passenger feedback, measuring excellence across safety, sustainability, well-being, service, and customer experience. Winning World Class was not an accolade achieved overnight. It was the product of a relentless, end-to-end transformation of our people, products, service and more.
Achieving this recognition required one of the most extensive transformation efforts in the airline’s history. It meant a complete overhaul of the inflight experience, procuring brand new galley and service equipment, building new supply chains for freshly sourced produce, working with local Fiji businesses and manufacturers, both small and large, and introducing an entirely new suite of premium products onboard.
The airline worked closely with both existing and new caterers and suppliers in Fiji and around the world, expecting them to rise to the same world class standards Fiji Airways was setting for themselves.
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 each. Sixteen of the best 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.
Andre Viljoen, Managing Director and CEO of Fiji Airways, said ‘this recognition is 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.
Every guest we welcome, we fight for. Every route we grow, we defend.
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.
That is why we embarked on the World Class journey. It required us to lift every part of our airline to a standard that only the world’s best achieve. It gives us a powerful point of difference that no amount of advertising and marketing can buy.
As we look ahead, Fiji Airways remains focused on constant innovation and raising the bar even higher. Today, we celebrate together with our staff, loyal guests, stakeholders, and the nation of Fiji. Vinaka vakalevu. The world is watching, and we are soaring.”
This recognition cements Fiji Airways’ place among the world’s top 10 leaders in hospitality and excellence and shines a global spotlight on Fiji as a premier travel destination.
FURTHER READING: For those interested in exploring this topic further, additional resources and in-depth materials are provided below when available; otherwise, no further reading is included at this time.:
REFERENCES: This guide is based on over a decade of research and firsthand experience living in Fiji. It incorporates extensive knowledge gained through long-term residence and ongoing engagement with the region. Images and text have been sourced from official references, which are acknowledged below, to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness.
FOOTNOTES: Additional details, clarifications, or sources referenced in this article are included as Footnotes below the text when applicable; otherwise, no Footnotes are provided.