Air Travel

Fiji has become one of the main travel hubs in the South Pacific. Because of its location, it is serviced by a number of carriers from Australia and New Zealand, as well as its own international airline, which flies to Los Angeles as well as regional neighbors. Most travelers fly into Nadi International Airport on the island of Viti Levu, although the Nausori airport near the capital of Suva also hosts a few international flights.

Air Travel Resources in Fiji

Airports Fiji Limited. This website has a wealth of information on arriving, and even transiting passengers. It covers the airport facilities (shopping, dining, luggage storage, and lost and found); Border Control: Customs and Immigration; and transportation options (taxis, rental cars and buses, as well as air travel arrival and departures). Nadi, Viti Levu. 672–5777; www.airportsfiji.com.

Airports

Nadi International Airport (NAN) is the major gateway airport in Fiji, about 10 km (6 miles) north of the city center of Nadi. It has good facilities, including accommodation, a travel agency, and car rental representatives, a 24-hour bank with currency exchange, cafés, a post office, shops, a small bookstore, and luggage storage (about $6 per day). Refurbished in 2014, the airside departure lounge has extensive duty free shopping, eateries, and bars. A tollway connects the airport to Denarau 30 minutes away.

Nausori Airport (SUV), which is about 22 km (14 miles) from downtown Suva, is smaller and less busy than Nadi, servicing mostly domestic flights to the outer islands to the north, east, and south. Some international flights arrive and depart from Suva, and there are frequent connections to Nadi via domestic flights and coach services.

There are domestic airstrips/airports in Mana Island, Vanua Balavu, Kadavu, Lakeba, Moala, Labasa, Savusavu, and Taveuni. These "airports" often consist of one building with a ticket counter, a soda machine, possibly a sandwich shop, a toilet, and an airstrip for the smaller planes used in domestic transfers. As Fiji Time prevails in the outer islands, it's best to come prepared: pack snacks, water, toilet paper, and a good book.

Airport Information

Nadi International Airport. Nadi, Viti Levu. 672–5777; www.airportsfiji.com/nadi_aiport.php.

Nausori Airport. Suva, Viti Levu. www.airportsfiji.com/nausori_airport.php.

Ground Transportation

Both Nadi International Airport and Nausori Airport are well serviced by taxis, buses, car rental agencies, and accommodation transport. If you're booking your accommodation in advance, ask about airport transfers, which can usually be arranged. Otherwise, approach any taxi or bus driver to discuss routes and fares. If you have questions or are facing difficulties, simply ask someone from any one of the tour operators at the airport who should be able to assist you.

Flights

Island transfers by plane are usually affordable and fast. If you can handle the occasional light-plane turbulence, you'll be rewarded with scenic views of the islands and reefs. Note that your luggage may fly separately (due to space availability or weight issues), arriving just before or after you. Flights are usually reliable and more or less on time, but book in advance if you want to secure a seat.

Planes tend to be small, with one or two seats on either side of the aisle, specific weight requirements (you'll have to weigh yourself and your luggage before the flight), no bathrooms, and definitely no in-flight service.

Fiji, like Hawaii, is one of the major destination hubs in the South Pacific, and many people traveling from the United States to Australia or New Zealand prefer to stop in Fiji en route. Fiji Airways, Air New Zealand, and Qantas fly direct from the west coast to Fiji, with a travel time of about seven hours.

Domestically referred to as Fiji Link, the airline (which is fully incorporated within Fiji Airways) services nine of the outer islands, and many regional neighbors such as the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Samoa. The website has the most up-to-date schedules, which tend to change from week to week.

Northern Air services the outer islands to the north, east, and south from Suva's Nausori Airport. It flies to nine destinations using a fleet of six aircraft providing multiple scheduled flights per week to each destination.

Domestic Airline Contacts

Fiji Link (Fiji Airways Domestic). 672--0888; 800/227--4446; www.fijiairways.com.

Northern Air. Nausori Airport, Suva, Viti Levu. 679--3475; www.northernair.com.fj.

International Airline Contacts

Air New Zealand. 357--3000; www.airnewzealand.co.nz.

Fiji Airways. Nadi, Viti Levu. 672--0888; 800/227--4446; www.fijiairways.com.

Qantas. 800/227–4500; www.qantas.com.

Charter Flights

Travelers to Fiji like to island-hop and there are several charter flight companies to choose from. Island Hoppers has more than 30 years of experience in Fiji and an extensive knowledge of the islands. Pacific Island Air offers everything from island transfers to scenic tours and Turtle Airways, which has been operating for 25 years, was the first float-plane service in Fiji.

Scenic flights over Fiji's spectacular mountain ranges and gorges are offered by both helicopter and plane, usually around US$200 for 20 minutes. Helicopters, seaplanes, and planes offer both scenic flights and island transfers for around the same price.

Contacts

Heli-Tours Fiji. Helicopter transfers, scenic flights, and day charters are available. Port Denarau, Denarau Rd., , Nadi, Viti Levu. 675--0255; www.helitoursfiji.com.

Island Hoppers. Helicopters and fixed wing aircrafts are available for transfers, scenic flights, and day charters. Nadi Airport, Nadi, Viti Levu. 672–0410; www.helicopters.com.fj.

Pacific Island Air. Seaplane, airplane, and helicopter transfers are available from Nadi to most resorts, but reservations are essential. Sightseeing and charter flights are also available. CAAF Compound, London Ave., , Nadi, Viti Levu. 672–5644; www.pacificislandair.com.

Turtle Airways. Seaplane transfers are available to resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands approximately every hour starting at 7 am from Nadi Airport. Inter-resort transfers may also be available. Wailoaloa Beach, Nadi, Viti Levu. 672–1888; www.turtleairways.com.