One-stop flights from Philippines to Fiji set

The South Pacific nation Fiji just got closer to the Philippines.

Fiji Airways and Jetstar on Thursday announced the launch of an interline partnership to provide seamless, single ticket air travel from the Philippines to Fiji, and onwards in the South Pacific for the first time.

The new commercial agreement between the Fijian flag carrier and the Jetstar Group of branded airlines including Jetstar Airways, Jetstar Asia, Jetstar Japan and Jetstar Pacific, will connect Fiji Airways’ newly launched Singapore to Nadi route, with more than 21 destinations on Jetstar’s network from Singapore, including the Philippines.

Fiji Airways commenced twice-weekly direct flights to Singapore on 5 April 2016, creating the first ever direct flights between Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.

“We’re excited to expand our reach in Asia through this partnership with Jetstar to connect more destinations in the region to our extensive South Pacific network,” Andre Viljoen, Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO said in a statement.

“This interline agreement will offer a seamless travel experience from 21 cities in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar, to Fiji, via Singapore. It also opens new travel possibilities for the growing number of South Pacific travelers looking to explore Asia,” Viljoen added.

While the agreement covers all 73 destinations served by the Jetstar Group, including Jetstar Airways in Australia, the immediate take-up will be for Jetstar destinations from Singapore.

“Our services and networks out of Singapore deliver very attractive itineraries for global carriers to offer their customers,” Barathan Pasupathi, CEO of Singapore-based Jetstar Asia, said.

“More importantly, such interline and codeshare partnerships with full-service carriers are testament to our product and delivery of an equivalent level of service on board our flights,” Pasupathi added.

Fiji Airways and Jetstar customers will be able to book flights and check-through baggage when purchasing tickets from Fiji Airways’ sales channels, including its website, online travel sites, sales offices and reservation centers.