Air Pacific to relaunch with new partners onboard

Air Pacific, Fiji’s national airline, continues to prepare for a significant relaunch in 2013 with the announcement today of three key strategic partnerships.   The partnerships will further enhance international travellers’ in-flight experience onboard the ‘new’, revitalised airline.

The news follows yesterday’s major reveal that Air Pacific will relaunch with a rebrand, returning to its original name,  ‘Fiji Airways’, when the airline’s new Airbus330-200 fleet takes to the skies in June 2013.

Announced today at Bula Fiji Tourism Exchange (BFTE) in Fiji, the strategic partners selected by Air Pacific include Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic), Zodiac company Weber Aircraft, and Singapore Airlines Engineering Company (SIAEC) who will all contribute their services or premium products to assist Air Pacific with the new aircraft.

“Air Pacific is delighted to announce a number of new partnerships that will allow us to provide passengers travelling to South Pacific even more reasons to fly with us. We’re working with Panasonic, Weber/Zodiac, and SIAEC as part of our commitment to providing a world-class flying experience for our customers onboard the new A330-200s in 2013, and we’re confident they will be impressed. These deals are consistent with our desire to work with the very best, as we continue to revitalise the airline and prepare to relaunch as ‘Fiji Airways’ next year,” said Air Pacific’s Managing Director and CEO David Pflieger.

Leading entertainment and communications provider, Panasonic, will install their eX2 in-flight entertainment system on the airline’s new A330-200 aircraft.  This is an industry leading in-flight entertainment system that includes on-demand audio/video, games, communications and applications that will be available in both Economy and Business Class.

Weber Aircraft has been selected to provide the seats for both Economy and Business Class on-board the new Airbus fleet.  The models selected for the two classes have a number of design features to ensure optimal comfort for passengers in terms of space, ease of movement, and cushioning.  Incorporating the Panasonic in-flight entertainment system, each seat will also have a USB and power outlet for computers, iPads, iPods, and similar devices.

With a focus on refreshing the look of Fiji’s national carrier, SIAEC has been selected for its new A330-200s’ cabin design and functionality. SIAEC will design the A330 interiors and do the specifications and quality inspections of the aircraft prior to their entry into service.

This week’s announcements mark important milestones in the continued turnaround and revitalisation of the airline.  In the last 12 months, the airline has ordered the three brand new A330-200 aircraft that will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 700 engines, it has increased flights between Fiji and Sydney from 7 to 13 times weekly, and it has made investments in revitalising and modernising the airline’s product and services, such as a newly refurbished Tabua Club Lounge at Nadi International.

“Air Pacific has a vision to become a best-in-class airline, and over the past 24 months we have made significant progress with our turnaround plan.  The relaunch of Air Pacific in 2013 as ‘Fiji Airways’ marks an exciting new chapter for us.  We will have an enhanced offering that will complement the gracious Fijian service that has won Air Pacific several awards.  In the meantime, we hope our customers will continue to enjoy Air Pacific’s current quality products and friendly service,” said Mr Pflieger.

The new Airbus aircraft will be delivered in March 2013, and will fly to Fiji from Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles.