Fiji Airways Wins APEX World Class 2026 Award, Cementing Its Position as a Leading Airline in Global Aviation

Published on September 12, 2025

Fiji, a renowned tropical paradise in the Pacific, is now home to one of the world’s top 10 airlines, as Fiji Airways clinched the prestigious APEX World Class 2026 Award. This remarkable achievement places the airline at the forefront of global aviation, highlighting its commitment to excellence in safety, sustainability, customer service, and well-being. The honor, awarded by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), is the highest accolade in the aviation industry, recognizing Fiji Airways for its outstanding performance and customer experience.

This victory is especially significant because Fiji Airways is the smallest airline by fleet size ever to win this coveted distinction and the only airline in the Oceania region to be recognized. It marks a proud moment for Fiji as a nation, showcasing its resilience and dedication to providing world-class travel experiences despite its size.

Along with the APEX World Class 2026 Award, Fiji Airways also won the APEX Innovation Award for Best Inflight Food/Beverage 2026. The airline’s newly launched Pacific Rim menu, alongside innovations such as on-demand Business Class dining and refreshed Economy service, were key factors in earning this distinction.

Key Highlights of Fiji Airways’ Achievements

• Historic Recognition: Fiji Airways is now ranked among the Top 10 Airlines in the World, earning the APEX World Class 2026 Award.
• APEX Innovation Award: The airline’s Pacific Rim menu and enhanced inflight services won the Best Inflight Food/Beverage 2026 award.
• Small Airline, Big Achievement: Fiji Airways is the smallest airline by fleet size to earn this honor, proving that a small island nation can achieve global success.
• Oceania’s Pride: Fiji Airways is the only airline from the Oceania region to be recognized in the World Class category.
• A Milestone for Fiji: This win symbolizes Fiji’s growing stature in global tourism and aviation.

The award, determined through a combination of independent audits and global passenger feedback, recognizes excellence across critical areas such as safety, sustainability, service quality, and the overall customer experience. For Fiji Airways, this marks a transformative journey, beginning in 2016 when it was ranked outside the world’s Top 100 airlines and rising to global prominence.

The Journey to World Class: Transformation and Innovation

The path to winning the APEX World Class Award has been nothing short of transformative for Fiji Airways. Achieving this status required a complete overhaul of the airline’s inflight experience, including procuring new service equipment, redesigning menus, and creating entirely new supply chains for fresh ingredients. The airline’s efforts to partner with local Fijian businesses have also played a key role in shaping its new and innovative approach to food and service.

The airline spent months developing a new Pacific Rim-inspired cuisine, which includes fresh, local produce, and traditional Fijian flavors, elevating the dining experience onboard. This was paired with an ambitious initiative to enhance the Business Class dining experience, offering passengers the ability to order meals on-demand. Furthermore, the airline refreshed its Economy service, ensuring that all passengers, regardless of class, enjoy high-quality service and a memorable travel experience.

The Impact of Fiji Airways’ Innovation

The scale of the transformation was immense. Hundreds of cabin crew members underwent extensive training, with 16 of the best being selected to become World Class Trainers. These trainers underwent a specialized 10-week program to ensure consistency in delivering the exceptional service that led to this recognition. From redesigning the service flow to introducing more sustainable practices in the airline’s operations, every step was carefully crafted to elevate the passenger experience.

The overhaul was a monumental effort that required months of dedication, teamwork, and passion. Fiji Airways has proven that with the right vision, a small airline from a small island nation can compete with some of the largest global carriers and come out on top.

Customer-Centric Innovation and World-Class Service

At the heart of this transformation is the airline’s commitment to standing out in a competitive industry. Fiji Airways’ CEO, Andre Viljoen, emphasized that in order to succeed, the airline had to “be unmistakably remarkable”. This focus on creating extraordinary experiences for passengers has become a key differentiator. For Fiji Airways, it’s not just about where they fly, but how they make passengers feel.

The airline’s success is a testament to the dedication of its people, from the ground crew to the cabin crew, all of whom played a vital role in delivering the world-class service that earned them this recognition. The airline’s remarkable rise from being ranked outside the top 100 to now being among the Top 10 Airlines in the World speaks volumes about the resilience, innovation, and spirit of the Fijian people.

Looking Ahead: Fiji Airways’ Vision for the Future

As Fiji Airways celebrates its success, the airline is already focused on the future. Viljoen stressed that the airline is “not resting on its laurels” but will continue to innovate and raise the bar for its passengers. The World Class recognition is just the beginning, and Fiji Airways is committed to continuing its evolution, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of the aviation industry.

The award also brings global attention to Fiji as a premier travel destination. As the airline continues to soar, it also elevates Fiji’s status in the global tourism landscape. The airline’s success is intrinsically linked to the country’s ability to attract visitors, as it is responsible for bringing in a significant percentage of tourists who visit Fiji.

Conclusion: A Historic Milestone for Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways’ recognition as one of the Top 10 Airlines in the World with the APEX World Class 2026 Award represents a monumental achievement in the history of aviation. It reflects the airline’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, and positions Fiji as a key player in global tourism. This win not only showcases the airline’s transformation but also puts Fiji on the world map, ensuring that this small island nation continues to make a big impact on the global stage.