Fiji Airways reveals A350 flights for Auckland as entry into service is pushed forward

In a Routesonline announcement today, alongside an announcement for their A350's entry into service to be pushed forward to the 3rd of December, Fiji Airways revealed plans for flights to Auckland Airport between a period of the 18th of December to the 30th.

These flights will operate as the current daily FJ411/410 on all dates during the period, not including apparent select exceptions. Previous Routesonline releases regarding the Fiji Airways A350s have only shown routes to Los Angeles and Sydney.

Fiji Airways' new acquisitions, leased from Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, will consist of two A350-941s, the first registered DQ-FAI, as well as fully painted. Flights will inaugurate to Sydney on the 3rd of September.

When flights commence, Fiji Airways will become Auckland's fourth A350 operator after Cathay Pacific, China Airlines and Sichuan Airlines respectively, Cathay Pacific due to introduce A350-1000s to Auckland in late October for the summer season.

It is also a possibility that after the airline's A350 season to Auckland ends that additional A350 flights will be flown in due to aircraft shortages from 737 MAX groundings, similar to how Fiji Airways' lone A330-300 DQ-FJW has been flown into Auckland on select occasions, and also how Christchurch has received multiple A330-200 flights for the same reason, however this is only speculation.

At the time of writing, Fiji Airways has not commented on the plans officially.

Fiji Airways' lone A330-300 DQ-FJW in Auckland as a result of MAX groundings (Photo: Biponacci, 22/04/19)