Fiji Airways has announced that Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, will be stepping down from his role effective October this year.

Viljoen has accepted the position of CEO at Air Mauritius and will be returning home after a decade of exceptional leadership in Fiji.

Chairman of Fiji Airways Nalin Patel expresses heartfelt gratitute to Andre for his outstanding leadership over the past 10 years.

He says, under his stewardship, Fiji Airways has undergone a remarkable transformation, with an annual revenue growing significantly, from FJ$ 815.3 million in 2015 to FJ$ 1.9 billion in 2024.

The airline’s SKYTRAX Rating improved to 4 Stars, with its global ranking soaring from 102nd in 2015 to an impressive 14th in 2024.

Fiji Airways was awarded ‘Best Airline in Australia/Pacific’ for two consecutive years and earned the APEX 5 Star Major Airline rating for three years running, under Andre’s leadership.

Among his many accomplishments, Viljoen also led the development of our world-class Aviation Academy, now home to four state-of-the-art full-flight simulators.

This initiative has not only enhanced cost efficiency but also raised the standard of pilot training by supporting more Fijians to become captains and attracting major third-party clients such as Air Tahiti, Cathay Pacific, and Qantas.

During the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Viljoen’s visionary ‘Future-Fit Ready Strategy’ ensured the airline’s survival and rapid recovery once borders reopened.

“Fiji Airways operated 523 repatriation flights and transported 17,825 tons of freight when other airlines ceased operations. Thanks to this proactive approach, Fiji Airways were the first to resume services when borders reopened in Australia and New Zealand. This positioned us for exceptional post-COVID growth, resulting in record passenger numbers and financial performance in 2023”, Patel said.

To ensure continuity, Andre will remain on the Board of Directors after his transition.

“There is no conflict of interest, as Fiji Airways and Air Mauritius serve different markets. On the contrary, shared aircraft types such as the Airbus A350 and ATR offer exciting opportunities for collaboration in leadership and operational development,” Patel said.

An extensive search will be conducted to identify the most suitable candidate for the MD CEO role.

The position will be advertised internally, nationally, and internationally.

All candidates who meet the clearly defined criteria outlined in the upcoming advertisement
and job description will be considered.