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- Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji, has won the APEX World Class Airline for 2026 Award.
- The honour now places the airline among the Top 10 in the World.
- Fiji Airways is the smallest airline by fleet size ever to earn this honour, and the only airline in Oceania to be recognised.
- The accolade comes after a lengthy and intensive overhaul of the airline’s in-flight and premium product offering.
A lot can happen in a decade. Ten years ago, Malcolm Turnbull was Prime Minister of Australia, Pokémon Go was trending, and carrier Fiji Airways was a lowly 105th in the global airline rankings. Today, none of those things is true and no one is happier about it than Andre Viljoen, managing director and CEO of Fiji Airways. The executive has just announced that the national carrier has been named the APEX World Class Airline for 2026, placing it among the top 10 airlines in the world.
“In 2016, we were ranked outside the world’s Top 100 airlines,” Viljoen said in a statement. “Today, through sheer grit, relentless innovation, and the unbreakable spirit of our people, we have risen to be named one of the Top 10 Airlines in the World.”
Fiji Airways Wins APEX World Class 2026 Airline
The APEX World Class Award is judged through a stringent process that combines independent audits with global passenger feedback. The multi-faceted assessment then measures excellence across safety, sustainability, well-being, service, and customer experience.
According to the judges, Fiji Airways scored highly in all key categories; however, it was the food and beverage offering that tipped the odds in its favour. In addition to taking home the grand prize, the airline also secured the APEX Innovation Award for Best In-Flight Food/Beverage 2026. The airline recently launched a new Pacific Rim menu, alongside on-demand Business Class dining and refreshed Economy service.
Fiji Airways is the smallest airline by fleet size to earn this honour and the only airline in Oceania to be acknowledged. As Viljoen explained, the airline’s success has been driven by a determination to prove that a small airline from a small island nation can still deliver a world-class offering.
“This recognition is not just an award, it’s about showing every Fijian, and every member of our team, that we can achieve the impossible,” Viljoen said. “We are the David in a world of Goliaths – and we are winning.”
Fiji Airways Overhaul
The international accolade comes after an intensive, company-wide revamp of Fiji Airways processes, operating standards and service. According to the airline, a complete overhaul of the in-flight experience was required, prompting the team to procure brand new galley and service equipment. Additionally, the revamp saw Fiji Airways take a ‘local-first’ approach, building new supply chains for freshly sourced produce and working alongside local Fijian businesses and manufacturers to introduce an entirely new suite of premium products.
“It was a massive undertaking that required months of preparation, dedication, and teamwork before the very first World Class flight took off”, said Viljoen.
“To excel, we cannot afford to be ordinary. We need to stand out, to be unmistakably remarkable, and to create an experience so extraordinary that travellers choose Fiji Airways not just for where we fly, but for how we make them feel,” Viljoen added. “That is why we embarked on the World Class journey. It required us to lift every part of our airline to a standard that only the world’s best achieve. It gives us a powerful point of difference that no amount of advertising and marketing can buy.”
Fiji Airways now joins fellow oneworld alliance partner Qatar Airways as an APEX World Class Airline winner. Previous title holders include Singapore Airlines and Emirates.
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