Thursday, 24 July 2014: Fiji Link, the domestic and regional subsidiary of Fiji Airways, is preparing to receive its first brand new ATR 42-600 aircraft in late August. This will be the second new aircraft for the recently rebranded carrier this year.

Fiji Airways Group Managing Director and CEO Stefan Pichler says the second ATR-42 is the next step in the current fleet upgrade work being undertaken for Fiji Link.

“We have a robust plan to modernise the Fiji Link fleet to more efficiently serve the domestic market as well as the South Pacific regional flying the carrier does on behalf of Fiji Airways. This incoming 600-series ATR 42 is a step-up from the current 500-series that Fiji Link operates. Following the arrival of this brand new aircraft along with another ATR 72-600 for Fiji Link in December, the two current ATR 42-500s will exit the fleet. So overall, we will significantly increase Fiji Link capacity this year with state-of-the-art new ATR aircraft.”

The ATR 42-600 have considerably more cocktail and other enhancements, including higher efficiency and a lower fuel burn compared to the ATR 42-500s.

“Our goal is to keep reducing fuel costs as well as well our carbon footprint by looking for more efficient aircraft where possible.  The ATR 42-600 will be an important acquisition for us in that respect, as the older ATR 42-500s exit the fleet.”
The ATR fleet for Fiji Link are all leased from aircraft lessors.