Paradise awaits. It was announced this week that Fiji will reopen to travelers from the United States in December.
Fiji’s gradual reopening will begin with flights from Los Angeles and San Francisco on Fiji Airways for fully vaccinated travelers. The announcement was made by the airline, which is Fiji’s main airline carrier, along with the upcoming flight schedule for December. This will be the first time the islands will welcome a commercial flight from the U.S. since March 2020.
Routes Include Daily Flights From Los Angeles
According to the airline website, the first flights are scheduled to depart from LA and San Francisco on November 30 and will arrive at Fiji’s Nadi International Airport on December 2.
From November 30, daily flights will be scheduled from Los Angeles on the new Airbus A35-900 aircraft. Flights will also depart five times a week from San Francisco on its A330 aircraft. On top of those two U.S. cities, twice weekly flights on Boeing 737 MAX leave depart from Honolulu to Fiji starting in December.
Fiji’s Previous Reopening Plans Were Scheduled For December
Back in September, Fiji’s Prime Minister announced that the proposed reopening date would be by November 1, which was months ahead of scheduled. In his statement, he noted that opening the air borders would depend on things like the vaccination rates of the local population. “That’s the target we’ve set now, and it bases itself on the success we’ve had with the vaccination campaign.”
Trips To Fiji Will Include Hotel Stay Packages
If a destination like Fiji has always seemed a little out of reach for you (distance-wise and also cost-wise) this might be your window of opportunity.
As part of Fiji’s reopening initiative, the airline has partnered with some resorts located in the hottest tourist spots in the Fiji islands. Tourists can purchase travel packages which include the round-trip flights from the U.S., accommodation, transportation and food.
For instance, there’s currently a package available with Shangri-La Fijian Resort on Yanuca Island. Prices start at $1,299 for a six-night stay, which includes the flights, accommodation, all meals, transfers and more. The InterContinental Fiji Golf Resort & Spa also have six-night stay packages available from $1,499 USD. Family packages (two adults and two kids) are available with the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa in Denarau, with four-night packages starting at $3,499 in total.
“After almost two years of no tourism, we cannot wait to welcome back international travellers from 1st December and greet them with our famous Fijian hospitality. We can finally give our American friends a big bula welcome onboard our aircraft and safely transport them to a well-deserved vacation in paradise,” said Fiji Airways CEO Andre Viljoen.
What Will The Travel Restrictions Be?
The health guidelines for traveling to Fiji during this reopening phase are pretty standard. Travelers must be fully vaccinated and present a negative Covid RT-PCR test taken no later than 72 hours before departure. Arrivals will also be given a rapid test at their accommodation (must booked before travel) before they can travel around without quarantining. Masks on the flights will also be mandatory.
Things To Do In Fiji
If you’re planning a trip to Fiji for the first time or you’re eager to return to this beautiful country in the South Pacific, Fiji offers a unique experience for travelers. It’s known as the “Soft Coral Capital of the World” and there’s a total of 332 islands, although only 110 of them are inhabited.
