Fiji Airways announces major US expansion with new ultra-long-haul route

If Fiji is on your bucket list, there will soon be a new way to get there.

Fiji Airways announced on Wednesday that it will start a new non-stop flight from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Nadi International Airport (NAN) in Fiji. The carrier officially filed for a permit to operate the new route with the US Department of Transportation about a month ago.

The new thrice-weekly service will begin on December 10. Flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Flights from Dallas will depart at 9:55 pm and arrive in Fiji at 5:20 am two days later. The eastbound flight from Fiji departs at 9:15 pm and arrives in Dallas at 3:20 pm the same day.

The airline will send a 334-seat Airbus A350-900 jet to Dallas. Fiji’s A350 has a competitive business class product arranged in nine rows in an inverted 1-2-1 herringbone configuration.

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Each business-class traveler will enjoy direct aisle access, as well as 17-inch TV screens, power outlets and USB ports.

Fiji’s A350s also have 301 economy seats, 39 of which offer extra reclining space.

“Launching direct service between Fiji and Dallas is a truly exciting milestone for Fiji Airways, as we continue to expand Fiji’s connections to the United States and further provide our guests with more travel options,” said Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen in a statement.

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Speaking of exciting milestones, Fiji Airways’ new route will be the carrier’s longest flight yet. At 6,625 miles, the Dallas-to-Nadi route is 760 miles longer than the current long-haul flight to Vancouver, British Columbia. (The flights will take about 13 hours.) In addition, Dallas will become the airline’s fourth US hub, joining Honolulu, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Fiji’s expansion comes just weeks after the airline announced it would adopt American Airlines’ AAdvantage loyalty program as its own. Travelers will be able to earn and use AAdvantage miles on all Fiji airlines and enjoy the same loyalty benefits of elite members. It is also possible that American Airlines may begin to re-introduce redemptions on Fiji Airways flights.

In addition to the AAdvantage news, Fiji Airways recently received approval to become a new member of the Oneworld airline alliance in 2025. American Airlines is a founding member of this alliance.

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As the flag carrier of Fiji, Fiji Airways’ main mission is to promote tourism in the South Pacific islands. With the new DFW route, travelers can book hundreds of one-stop flights from destinations across the US to Fiji, likely increasing the appeal of travel to Fiji for many US-based travelers. This is especially true for East Coast-based fliers, who currently need to take a transcontinental flight to connect on a non-stop route from the US to Fiji.

In addition, Fiji Airways has historically also used its strategic location in the South Pacific to offer attractive fares for connections beyond Nadi to nearby destinations, including Australia and New Zealand. This new route could lead to a lower cost of a private priority trip.

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