Fiji Airways has outlined its plan for a return to flying once border restrictions ease and travel demand returns. The “Travel Ready” program details the airline’s commitment to safeguarding the health and safety of its customers and staff; this includes the creation of a new onboard role of medically qualified “customer wellness champions.” This role will manage and maintain wellbeing, customer medical safety and promote wellness through service interactions to passengers and crew onboard and on the ground for every flight on the Fiji Airways international network.
Facemasks will be mandatory for travel for both Fiji Airways and Fiji Link customers, and guests are advised to have these prior to arriving at the airport for the issuance of boarding passes. All customers must keep their masks on wherever practical throughout their journey, except small children and those unable to do so.
All customer-facing staff will wear personal protective equipment (PPE); this includes sales office, airport and lounge staff, as well as cabin crew. The redesigned onboard service and experience will reduce contact between customers and crew while maintaining the uniquely warm Fiji Airways hospitality.
Some of the additional measures and advice for international customers are as follows:
Before Flying:
- Customers holding credits will be able to use these for future flights on Fiji Airways up till December 31, 2021
- Spaced out seating and entry limits will apply at all Fiji Airways Sales Offices
- Customers are advised to familiarize themselves with up-to-date information about the entry requirements for their destinations by visiting the Travel Ready hub on the Fiji Airways website
- Customers feeling unwell on their day of travel are strongly advised to not travel, and to rebook travel to a different day; unwell customers may be denied boarding at the airport
- All Fiji Airways and Fiji Link aircraft undergo enhanced deep cleaning daily, which includes “fogging” and wiping all surfaces with specifically approved disinfectants
At the Airport:
- Customers can expect enhanced health screenings, including temperature checks
- Physical distancing and spaced-out counters will be practiced throughout most airports, and hand sanitizers will be available for use
- All checked-in bags will be sanitized before being loaded onto the aircraft
- Boarding will be done by seat-rows (starting from the rear of the aircraft for Fiji Airways and front of the aircraft for Fiji Link), to reduce contact between customers
At the Lounge:
- Physical distancing and spaced-out seating will be practiced through the Fiji Airways Premier Lounge at Nadi International Airport and hand sanitizers will be available for use
- All dining will be offered Ala Carte
Onboard:
- The in-cabin air in all jet aircraft is filtered and recirculated through extremely efficient HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestors) filters
- Lavatories onboard will be sanitized more frequently inflight and high-touch surfaces will be sanitized after every flight
- Business Class customers will continue to enjoy three-course meals, now delivered on a single tray
- A simplified meal service for Economy Class will be delivered in special packaging, which reduces contact between customers and crew (this eco-friendly packaging is safe for disposal and will save up to half a million liters of water per year and remove up to two tons of plastics annually from onboard)
- Magazines and newspapers will not be available onboard; customers will receive sanitized headsets in sealed packs
- Business Class amenity kits will include specially designed facemasks, along with hand gloves and hygiene packs
Further safeguards and customer experience enhancements will be revealed shortly; this includes further details about the role of Customer Wellness Champions, as well as broadening the airline’s Lailai Land children’s product and the Resort Check-in service.
Fiji Airways will await approval from authorities in Fiji and its key international markets before announcing international flight schedules. At present time, international flights remain cancelled through the end of July 2020.
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