Cairns is set to enhance its connectivity and boost the local economy with the introduction of direct flights to Fiji starting in 2025. This strategic move will significantly benefit conference and event delegates visiting Cairns Convention Centre by providing more convenient travel options.
The new route is expected to reduce travel time from major destinations in the United States by up to three hours, making Cairns an even more attractive destination for international travellers. This development is anticipated to stimulate the local economy, creating new opportunities for businesses and tourism operators in the region.
With Fiji Airways' expanding network in North America, an increasing number of visitors from the US will be able to reach Cairns seamlessly with just one stop. Destinations like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Dallas will now be only 16 hours away, reducing flight times by approximately three hours and eliminating the need for transfers at Australian domestic airports.
For conference and event travellers heading to the Cairns Convention Centre, the news is welcomed. In recent years, the Centre has hosted various prestigious, international events including The Viruses of Microbes Conference and the XVIth Quark Confinement and the Hadron Spectrum Conference. In 2025, it’s also set to host the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association Congress. Such major conferences attract global experts who will now find their journeys to Cairns made much simpler.
“It’s going to be easier than ever for delegates travelling to and from North America,” says Janet Hamilton, General Manager of the Cairns Convention Centre. “We’re seeing increasing interest from global event organisers and the new flight route to and from Nadi – with onward connections to the US – couldn’t have come at a better time for us and future international visitors.”
The Cairns to Nadi route will add 53,000 seats a year into the market and expands Fiji Airways global network, offering convenient access to the Northern Hemisphere. The new route aligns with Fiji Airways Nadi-Dallas Fort Worth schedule, operating on the same days, allowing passengers travelling from Dallas to Cairns – and vice versa – a seamless and time-efficient connection, via Nadi.
Currently, Cairns International Airport operates direct services to major international destinations such as Tokyo, Osaka, Singapore, Bali, Port Moresby, and seasonal routes to Hong Kong and Auckland. Delegates traveling from Europe can already take advantage of excellent connections through major Asian hubs. Carriers like Singapore Airlines, now offering the A350-900 medium-haul widebody plane with First, Business, and Economy Class options, depart four times a week and provide seamless connections to Cairns from multiple cities in Europe, as well as from Asia and North America via its Changi hub. Additionally, Business Class and Economy Class flights are available with Jetstar from Osaka, Tokyo, and Bali. In April 2025, Jetstar will commence direct flights from Cairns to Christchurch, further expanding travel options.
Cairns Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker remarked, “This announcement from Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline, is a game changer for our region. The new service is a significant step forward in expanding Cairns' network and improving accessibility for both domestic and international travellers.”
Barker added, “For international visitors heading to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, travel will become much easier from April 2025. With Fiji Airways' Oneworld membership and close alignment with American Airlines, many markets in North America are now within easy reach.”
Commencing 10 April 2025, the Cairns-Nadi service will be thrice-weekly operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The aircraft will be a state-of-the-art Boeing 737 MAX 8 and the flight time approximately four hours. Economy passengers can enjoy complimentary full-flight text Wi-Fi on the new service and Business Class guests have access to complimentary full-flight browsing Wi-Fi to stay connected whilst travelling.
The new Fiji Airways flights come after substantial investment in the North American market by with the assistance of the Federal Government’s International Tourism Recovery Program.
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