iscover
Fiji Airways has touched down on the Gold Coast with its inaugural service from Nadi.
Flight FJ981 arrived in Coolangatta shortly after noon on Thursday aboard the 737 MAX 8 DQ-FAH, departing for the return to Nadi as FJ980 at around 1:45pm. Flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, adding over 53,000 seats annually to the market.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“The Gold Coast shares Fiji’s warmth, energy and spirit of adventure. Since announcing this route, demand has been exceptional with strong forward bookings and today that excitement finally becomes a reality,” said Fiji Airways CEO Paul Scurrah.
“We are delighted to bring our world-class hospitality to every Gold Coaster who steps on board, and as we pursue our vision to become the world’s happiest airline, this new connection is another proud step in that journey.”
Queensland Airports Limited (QAL) CEO Amelia Evans, who was on the inaugural flight, welcomed it as a “new chapter” for the airport.
“We continue to see growing demand for more international services from Gold Coast Airport, driven by the region’s growing population, affluence and global reputation,” she said.
“Fiji is a popular destination in its own right and also an important hub, making it easier for international visitors to better access the Gold Coast from key markets like Los Angeles, Honolulu and Canada.
“This is a valuable addition to our growing network, particularly as we look toward the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, when Gold Coast Airport will play an important role as an international gateway.”
The route has been enabled through the Queensland government’s Connecting Queensland Fund, with Tourism Minister Andrew Powell saying the government is “delivering on its commitment to drive more direct international flights into Queensland”.
“Queensland is the home of the holiday, and direct flights from Nadi to the Gold Coast will make it easier for more visitors to experience this world-class destination,” he said.
“This route also adds another valuable international connection, with easy links through Fiji to the United States and Canada, helping bring even more visitors to Queensland. More connections mean more people and more opportunity for our tourism industry.
“Supported by our Connecting Queensland Fund, this route is more than a flight path – it’s a pathway to growth, unlocking new opportunities for international travellers and delivering a boost to local businesses.”
Queensland currently sees around 1.1 billion inbound seats per year as of the end of 2025, generating $2.4 billion in visitor expenditure, with the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games expected to drive further growth.
Want to see more stories from trusted news sources?
Make Australian Aviation a preferred news source on Google.
Click here to add Australian Aviation as a preferred news source.
