A few months ago, Fiji Airways’ CEO announced how the company would look to become a full member of the oneworld alliance. This is now official, and should be completed within the next year.
In this post:
Fiji Airways in process of joining oneworld
Fiji Airways has applied for full membership in the oneworld alliance, and it will even happen pretty quickly. The process is commencing immediately, and should be completed within 12 months, so by mid 2025 at the latest.
The oneworld alliance is one of the three global alliances. Major airlines in oneworld include American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, Qantas, and more. In the past few years the alliance added two new members (Alaska and Royal Air Maroc), but also lost one member (LATAM). Furthermore, Oman Air is expected to become a oneworld member in the coming months as well.
Fiji Airways is hoping that joining the oneworld alliance will help the country further increase its tourism, as the airline is already the country’s largest generator of foreign exchange income.
Fiji Airways will be the smallest member of the oneworld alliance, as the airline has just 14 aircraft, with the fleet comprised of Airbus A350s, Airbus A330s, and Boeing 737s. The airline offers a great business class experience on its A350s, and has a nice flagship lounge at Nadi Airport.
Here’s how Nat Pieper, CEO of oneworld, describes this development:
“It’s a very warm bula, or hello, to Fiji Airways as we welcome them as our 15th full member airline in the oneworld alliance. Fiji Airways is already part of the oneworld family, as we have had a highly successful relationship since the airline joined as a oneworld connect partner five years ago. With its tremendous growth, award winning product and services, and acceleration of connections with all oneworld member airlines, Fiji Airways will strengthen our position as the premier airline alliance for international global travellers.”
Here’s what Andre Viljoen, CEO of Fiji Airways, had to say:
“I am extremely proud to announce our full membership in the award-winning oneworld alliance, marking a significant step in our commitment to providing unparalleled service and connectivity. As a full member airline, we are excited to enhance the travel experience for oneworld alliance frequent flyers, offering greater accessibility to Fiji and the South Pacific, and ensuring seamless connections and memorable journeys for Fiji Airways customers across the alliance network.”
Fiji Airways is already a oneworld Connect member
While Fiji Airways is now pursuing full membership in the oneworld alliance, the airline already has an affiliation with the airline group. Since 2018, Fiji Airways has been the only oneworld Connect member, which is essentially a more limited version of alliance membership.
I think the whole oneworld Connect concept is kind of silly, and creates confusion among passengers. Essentially, oneworld Connect carriers have affiliations with only some oneworld airlines, and then most reciprocal perks are only valid between the oneworld Connect member and the airline it partners with directly.
Fiji Airways fully joining the oneworld alliance will be fantastic in terms of reciprocal opportunities when it comes to earning and redeeming miles, as well as taking advantage of elite benefits, like lounge access. The oneworld Emerald tier is also my favorite elite status offered by any alliance.
I also think Fiji Airways is doing the alliance a favor by becoming a full member and putting an end to the oneworld Connect concept.
Bottom line
Fiji Airways is now officially working on becoming a full oneworld member, as part of a larger attempt to boost tourism in the country. The airline is already a oneworld Connect member, so fully joining the alliance will be great for passengers, as it translates to a lot more reciprocal perks.
The integration of Fiji Airways into oneworld is starting immediately, and should be complete within the next 12 months.
What do you make of Fiji Airways becoming a full oneworld member?
Just ran into "one world 'connect'" AT the HNL Sakura/admiral's lounge. Looks like Fiji has no lounge partner on days that Qantas doesn't fly out of here. Lucky me. I've always found it stupid when you can redeem miles on an airline but the mileage program you're redeeming from disallows access to its own lounges, and similarly the mixed class itineraries which deny lounge on segments that are in Y (the lounge is not a...
Just ran into "one world 'connect'" AT the HNL Sakura/admiral's lounge. Looks like Fiji has no lounge partner on days that Qantas doesn't fly out of here. Lucky me. I've always found it stupid when you can redeem miles on an airline but the mileage program you're redeeming from disallows access to its own lounges, and similarly the mixed class itineraries which deny lounge on segments that are in Y (the lounge is not a limited resource the way inventory is for business class)
Have enjoyed my trips on FJ and look forward to doing it again.
Fiji Airways flights are already available with Avios
I'm not sure if this is good news or not. Consider the map of the word and which airlines are in which alliances. In each region there should be diversity of alliances.
Of course, this is welcome news. But, as we have all come to know, the real issue is partner award availability. Like AA transcon F or so many other redemptions, I'm not optimistic. Hopefully but not optimistic.
"It’s a very warm bula". OMG - hope they do not use that word to greet Hungarians on their plane :-)))
Why? That might get them more Hungarian sales! ;)
It most certainly could :-)))
Great comment!
Wonder if AA will have business class availability or if they'll miss out like on Qatar
Good news actually. Fiji was on our future travel list, so Avios welcome.
Awesome news! OW represents the best value for a lot of redemptions and there are many of us who feverishly collect Avios. Anything that allows for more flexibility in redeeming Avios is welcome.