Fiji Airways says flight times may be impacted because of the grounding of two Boeing 737 Max 8

Fiji Airways will use its existing Boeing 737 NG aircraft as well its Airbus A330 fleet after the grounding of the two Boeing 737 Max 8 planes.

The airline company says some flight times may be impacted as a result, and all affected customers will be notified of any change in their flight schedules.

However Fiji Airways is hopeful of a smooth transition with minimal disruption to passengers.

In line with the stance taken by aviation regulators in our region, and an increasing number of operators worldwide, Fiji Airways, together with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, took the decision to temporarily ground its fleet of Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft until more information is known about the cause of the Ethiopian Airlines accident.

CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde Gebremariam, looks at the wreckage of the plane that crashed shortly after takeoff from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia [Photo: MPR News]

In a joint statement, Fiji Airways, together with the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji, say that they continue to have full confidence in the airworthiness of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, and in the skilled and experienced Fiji Airways pilots and engineers who operate them.

They say since Fiji Airways commenced operating the Boeing 737 MAX in December 2018, the aircraft has proven to be reliable and efficient, and continuous flight data monitoring has not identified any issues that would give rise to a cause for concern.

Fiji Airways Boeing 737 Max 8, Island of Gau

However, out of deference to the position taken by regulators in our region, and in response to the concerns expressed by the general public, both Fiji Airways and the Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji have agreed that the most appropriate course is to impose this temporary grounding.