Fiji Airways fuel shortage nears end

Fiji's fuel shortage at Nadi International Airport is nearing resolution, with Tourism Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka confirming a new jet fuel shipment will stabilize availability within days. The situation had prompted airlines to refuel before arriving in Nadi, as the airport could not guarantee surplus supply.

Virgin Australia was among the carriers forced to divert flights to Noumea last week due to the restrictions. Gavoka explained the directive to airlines: "We told them, look, don’t refuel in Nadi. Fill up before you come to Nadi because we knew the supply was limited. We wanted our Fiji Airways to be protected and all the medivac services to be protected."

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We told them, look, don’t refuel in Nadi. Fill up before you come to Nadi because we knew the supply was limited. We wanted our Fiji Airways to be protected and all the medivac services to be protected.

The minister reassured the public that the shortage is temporary. The new shipment is expected to resolve the issue by the end of the month. The surge in demand for aviation fuel, driven by airlines returning to full schedules after the Middle East crisis, contributed to the shortage. Gavoka emphasized that Fiji Airways' national and emergency services operations remained uninterrupted.

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It’s still in force, but in two days’ time, a new shipment arrives, confirmed, delivered, and it’ll be over.