Fiji Airways has entered into a new three-year partnership with Australian Football League club the Gold Coast SUNS, a collaboration designed to boost Fiji’s visibility in Australia ahead of the airline’s upcoming direct flights between the Gold Coast and Nadi, scheduled to begin on 11 June 2026. The agreement strengthens Fiji’s tourism promotion in one of its most important visitor markets while highlighting the airline’s expanding international network.
The partnership will see Fiji prominently featured at Gold Coast SUNS home games, placing the destination in front of thousands of spectators throughout the AFL season. With matchday crowds regularly reaching around 20,000 fans, the collaboration provides a high-profile platform to showcase Fiji as a leading holiday destination to Australian audiences. It also aligns with Fiji Airways’ broader efforts to increase awareness of Fiji in key travel markets as the national carrier continues to expand connectivity between Australia and the Pacific.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Paul Scurrah said Australia remains the airline’s most significant tourism market and that the Gold Coast represents a natural extension of its existing network. He noted that the new partnership supports the introduction of the airline’s upcoming direct service while promoting Fiji to a wide audience of potential travellers through sport and entertainment.
Fans attending SUNS matches will also experience elements of Fijian culture throughout the season, with themed halftime entertainment, cultural performances and interactive activities planned at People First Stadium. Gold Coast SUNS Chief Executive Mark Evans said the collaboration reflects the club’s growing connections with the Pacific region and highlights the shared ambition of both organisations to strengthen links between the Gold Coast and Fiji through tourism, sport and community engagement.
Founded in 1951, the Fiji Airways Group includes Fiji Airways, Fiji’s international airline, and its wholly owned domestic and regional subsidiary, Fiji Link. Operating from its hubs at Nadi and Suva (Nausori) International Airports, the two carriers serve 36 destinations across 14 countries—including those operated through codeshare agreements and Fiji Link services.
As a full member of the oneworld alliance, Fiji Airways provides connectivity to over 900 destinations worldwide. Its network includes Fiji, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong (SAR China), Singapore, India, Japan, Mainland China, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands.
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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.
