Travel - International
Air
The national airline is Air Pacific (FJ) (website: www.airpacific.com), which operates to the Pacific Island nations as well as to Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Other airlines serving Fiji include Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Korean Air, Polynesian Airlines, Qantas and United Airlines.
Approximate flight times
From Nadi to London is 27 hours 45 minutes (plus connection/stopover time), to Los Angeles is nine hours 30 minutes and to Sydney is three hours 45 minutes.
International airports
Nadi (NAN) is 8km (5 miles) north of Nadi town on Viti Levu island. A bus to the city operates 0700-1830 (travel time – 20 mintues). Taxis are also available. Airport facilities include banks/bureaux de change, duty free shop, 24-hour bar, restaurant, left luggage office (24-hour), tourist information, post office and car hire (Avis, Budget, Central, Hertz and Roxy). Suva (SUV) is actually at Nausori, 21km (13 miles) from Suva. Nadi is where most international flights arrive, while Suva is the internal hub. Buses and taxis are available at both airports.
Air passes
The Polypass (offered by Polynesian Airlines) allows the holder to fly between the Southern Pacific destinations of American Samoa, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga; Honolulu (Hawaii) and Los Angeles in the USA; Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia; and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington in New Zealand. The pass is valid for one year. Once a reservation has been made and travel begun, all travel must be completed within a maximum of 45 days. Tickets will be issued against the Polypass by any Polynesian Airlines office (a valid passport is also required). For further information, contact Polynesian Airlines (website: www.polynesianairlines.com). The Visit the South Pacific Pass is valid for many airlines operating in the South Pacific, including most of the larger ones, such as Air Caledonie, Air Marshall Islands, Air Nauru, Air Niugingi, Air Pacific, Air Vanuatu, Polynesian Airlines, Qantas, Royal Tongan Airlines and Solomon Airlines. Offering reductions of up to 40 per cent on normal airfares, this sector-based pass allows for flexible island-hopping between the destinations of the Cook Islands, Fiji, Nauru, New Caledonia, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Vanuatu and the more remote Melanesian and Micronesian islands, together with major cities in Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney) and New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington). It is only available for people resident outside of the South Pacific. The journey must be started outside the South Pacific and only one stopover in Australia is allowed. A minimum of two sectors must be bought before departure (extra sectors can be purchased en route). There is a maximum of one pass per person, and passes must be used within six months of the first day of travel. Children under 12 years of age pay 75 per cent of the adult fare. For details and conditions, contact the South Pacific Tourist Organisation (see Contact Addresses section).
Departure tax
F$30. Children under 12 years of age and transit passengers leaving within 12 hours are exempt.
Sea
The international ports are Suva and Lautoka (Viti Levu). Passenger lines serving Fiji include Crystal, Cunard, Peter Deilmann, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Society. Several cargo lines stop at Fiji including Bank Line and Pacific Forum Line. There are regular sailings to Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Tuvalu.
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