Review: first Fiji Airways flight from Canberra to Nadi

It's a historic occasion not only for the airline but for Canberrans, who have been deprived of international flights for more than three years.

Review: first Fiji Airways flight from Canberra to Nadi

By Blake Foden

Updated April 1, 2025, first published August 25, 2023

As dozens of passengers line the windows at Canberra Airport, clapping and cheering, my mind is catapulted back 20 years.

I'm taking to the sky for the first time, an excited 11-year-old naively expecting my fellow flyers to break into applause when we cross a border or land at our destination.

Any disappointment I felt as a child is washed away now as a Boeing 737 Max 8 touches down to be greeted by a water cannon salute and an enthusiastic crowd.

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The aircraft has just arrived in the nation's capital to take us on the first Fiji Airways flight from Canberra to Nadi.

It's a historic occasion not only for the airline but for Canberrans, who have, until this sunny Friday afternoon, been deprived of international flights for more than three years.

Now, Fiji is just four hours away, with Flight FJ950 heading to Nadi twice a week until October, when the airline will add a third service.

fiji service

CHECKING IN

This new route allows locals to adhere to the golden rule of travel: avoid Sydney Airport at all costs. Gone is the three-hour drive to the harbour city, with its hellish traffic and long, chaotic queues. In Canberra, I park almost right at the airport's front door and reach the check-in desk, within minutes. I'm in economy, so I'm allowed 7kg of carry-on and up to 30kg of checked baggage.

Also read: Business class on a budget - yes it's possible

THE FLIGHT

We're delayed slightly in taking off but no one seems to mind, with live music in the departure lounge as part of the first-flight festivities. At being six feet tall, I've occasionally had to sit with my knees in my ears on planes, but I'm quite comfortable on this plane. Being in the emergency exit row, with a spare seat beside me, helps in this regard.

THE CLASS

I'm in one of the 162 economy seats on the aircraft, which also has eight spots in business class. With a 3-3 cabin layout, economy seats have 32" pitch, 5" recline and a USB power port. I'm about halfway down the plane in seat 23D.

FOOD & DRINKS

International economy flights include an inflight meal and drinks. On the Canberra to Nadi route, there's either mild spiced chicken rendang or vegetable chop suey with rice. Both come with a pasta salad, bread roll and butter, and a scotch finger biscuit. Like a lot of airline food, my meal is nice enough but nothing to write home about.

ENTERTAINMENT

The 10-inch seat-back screens offer a good range of movies, TV shows, music and games. Four hours is not long in the grand scheme of flight times, but long enough to need something to keep you occupied. I pass the time by rediscovering The Mentalist.

THE SERVICE

The high point of the flight, with the famous Fijiian friendliness making me feel I've arrived for my holiday a few hours early. The crew's unrelenting positivity goes down a treat as passengers rival the staff's enthusiasm with every exclamation of "bula!"

IN A NUTSHELL

My favourite part of a flight is usually the bit where you hop off. I don't enjoy flying. But this flight was one of the best I've been on, thanks to the crew's attitude and the general positivity all around me. The fact it only takes four hours, and gets you to a quite exotic destination, is a significant plus.

The writer was a guest of Fiji Airways. Flights depart from Canberra to Nadi every Tuesday and Friday, with a Sunday service starting in October. Economy is from $726 return.