Nadi–Gold Coast: Fiji Airways Adds Seventh Australian Destination

Fiji Airways (FJ), the national carrier of Fiji, has confirmed the launch of a new direct international service between Gold Coast Airport (OOL), Australia and Nadi International Airport (NAN), Fiji, scheduled to commence on 11 June 2026. This strategic expansion adds the Gold Coast as the airline’s seventh destination in Australia, enhancing connectivity across the Pacific and offering travellers a faster, more efficient route between two premier leisure and tourism markets.

The service will operate three times weekly — on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays — using the modern Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

Fiji’s Seventh Australian Route Details and Schedule

Fiji Airways has positioned this new route as a transformational addition to its Pacific network, aligning with increased travel demand between Australia and Fiji.

Key operational details:

• Departure and Arrival: Flights will connect Nadi (NAN) with Gold Coast (OOL) and vice versa.

• Weekly Frequency: Operates Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays reflecting both leisure and business demand patterns.

• Flight Time: Roughly 3+ hours each way, significantly faster than routings that previously required connections.

• Aircraft Type: The service will utilize the Boeing 737 MAX 8 narrow-body aircraft known for operational efficiency and reduced environmental impact relative to older models.

Fiji Airways NAN-OOL: Introductory Fares and Booking

To stimulate early demand, Fiji Airways is offering special introductory return fares from AUD $549 (or equivalent) for select travel dates, available for booking until 31 December 2025, reported Karryon. These promotional prices are expected to catalyze early adoption by leisure travelers and help establish the route’s viability in its inaugural year.

Schedule Example (June–November 2026)

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Amelia Evans highlighted the route’s importance for both tourism and visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic. She said the nonstop service would make travel to Fiji more convenient for Australians while also providing Fijian travellers with a direct connection to the Gold Coast.

Evans also pointed to Gold Coast Airport’s relatively straightforward arrival experience compared with larger capital-city airports, suggesting that the new service could offer visitors a more convenient start to their Queensland trips.

According to Paul Scurrah, Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, the new Gold Coast – Nadi route highlights the airline’s ongoing commitment to serving the Australian market:

“The Gold Coast is a natural fit for Fiji Airways. It is a thriving hub for tourism, business, and major global events, and its population and infrastructure growth make it an increasingly important part of Australia’s future. This new direct service strengthens ties between Fiji and Australia, unlocking significant opportunities for both outbound and inbound travel.”

The Aircraft That Fiji Will Utilize to Gold Coast

Fiji Airways is set to operate the Boeing 737 MAX 8 for its Gold Coast route. According to Planespotters.net, Fiji has five Boeing 737 MAX8s and these have an average age of 6.4 years.

The oldest aircraft in the fleet is DQ-FAB, which was delivered in November 2018 and is named Island of Kadavu. At 7.1 years old, it is the fleet’s longest-serving aircraft. The youngest aircraft is DQ-FAH, was delivered in May 2021 and named Island of Ovalau.

All in all

Fiji Airways’ new Gold Coast–Nadi service strengthens connectivity between Queensland and the South Pacific, with the route providing up to 53,000 seats annually. Queensland Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the Crisafulli Government was supporting the service through Destination 2045’s Connecting Queensland Fund, highlighting its potential to attract more visitors to the state via Fiji.

The Queensland Government expects the new connection to contribute around A$51 million to the state’s economy and support more than 100 direct jobs, with tourism businesses including hotels, restaurants and local experience operators expected to benefit from increased visitor numbers.