Fiji Airways was awarded Diamond certification, the highest standard for travel safeguards in a COVID-19 atmosphere by the Airline Passenger Experience Association and SimpliFlying. Diamond is the highest rating in the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying audit, only offered to airlines providing hospital-grade health safety measures. Fiji Airways is the first airline of its size to attain the Diamond certification.

The audit intensely investigates 58 areas across 10 stages of the customer experience, including online check-in, testing, contract tracing, the airport lounge, onboard experience and upon arrival. Fiji Airways’ Travel Ready program includes the wearing of personal protective equipment for crew; mandatory masks for customers; using of tracing apps; increased hygiene measures; hospital-grade sanitization and cleaning; online check-in facilitation; digitizing onboard content; a dedicated Travel Ready Hub; and redesigned onboard service.

“We are delighted with this recognition by the highly respected certification set-up by APEX powered by SimpliFlying. This is a testament to how seriously we take our Travel Ready program, which safeguards the health, wellbeing and medical safety of our customers and staff,” said Andre Viljoen, managing director and CEO, Fiji Airways. “We have taken over 1,200 health and safety actions across our Group, aligning the complete customer experience to the expectations and requirements for travel in the present environment.”

APEX worked with SimpliFlying to develop industry standards to increase customer safety.

“Fiji Airways has proven that you do not need to be the largest airline to reach the Diamond ‘hospital grade’ level, you just have to be relentlessly committed to safety,” said Dr. Joe Leader, CEO, APEX. “Fiji Airways’ health safety advancements, including its Travel Ready program, position the airline ideally for the return of broader air travel bolstered by vaccinated travelers and testing as added layers of protection for the country. Having flown Fiji Airways with my family, I look forward to the safest possible reopening of the Fijian islands with the ‘bula’ warmth and welcoming spirit.”

SimpliFlying has served more than 100 airlines worldwide, but shifted focus in the past year on building brand trust post-pandemic through biosafety measures and testing.

“Fiji Airways has raised the bar for health safety in the industry by initiatives such as Customer Wellness Champions onboard all flights to look after the medical safety and wellbeing of all customers, and sanitization of all check-in baggage at Nadi airport,” said Shashank Nigam, CEO, SimpliFlying. “Taking such hospital-grade measures in ensuring health safety will help bolster trust among travelers.”

Fiji Airways joins United Airlines, Etihad Airways, Alaska Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada in achieving Diamond certification.

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