MINISTER. PRASAD SPEECH AT THE LAUNCH OF THE FIJI AIRWAYS SPECIAL PUBLICATION 'SOAR'

- HonorableMembersofCabinet
• The Author, and CEO of SimpliFlying Mr Shashank Nigam, and his team
• The Chair and Directors of the Fiji Airways Board • The Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen
• The Executive Leadership and exemplary staff of Fiji Airways -- past, present and future -- who are, have been, and continue to be the face and hands of the airline, and whose sterling efforts we also honour today
• Invited guest, ladies and gentlemen

Bula vinaka and allow me to extend a warm welcome to our Island home if you are visiting Fiji for the first time.

I feel very privileged to be among you this morning, to launch this special edition of "SOAR" -- the series of which is hailed as the "definitive book on airline marketing and branding".

Having just heard the introduction of this book by Andre, I cannot help but to be filled with deep sense of pride, admiration and awe at what Fiji Airways has been able to achieve, and moreover what this means to our nation, and of course our economy.

To be showcased and underscored in such a way by a respected and widely followed aviation branding and innovation authority, such as Shashank Nigam, who selected Fiji Airways for this Special Edition of his book -- speaks volumes of the collective grit and determination, backed up by our world famous Bula smiles and Bula hearts that has been poured into the airline, for close to a decade.

This edition in particular encapsulates Fiji Airways' extraordinary journey and its systematic transformation, that is now paying dividends in the recognition that we are classified as one of the leading commercial carriers in the world.
It speaks also to the ethos of Fiji and our people. Small in size we may be, but relentlessly large in our hearts, through selfless hospitality and care.

This book is a ‘Fiji Airways Special Edition’ and is further proof that our national airline stands shoulder to shoulder with global aviation giants. I was delighted to learn, that we are the third airline in the world to have our own Special Edition.

To that effect, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Fiji Airways, its Board of Directors, Managing Director and CEO, Andre Viljoen, its senior management team, and all the outstanding staff for achieving this milestone and driving the recognition as an airline punching above its weight, as highlighted in the first Chapter.

Upon reflection, the title of the SOAR series should give us all room for pause. The word itself - to soar - insists upon us all that even while Fiji Airways as a carrier does soar, and has soared higher in spite of the pandemic that literally shut the globe down -- there are simply NO LIMITS to how high you can fly.
And on that note I proudly intend to table in Parliament soon, its Annual Report that details in numbers, just how well Andre and his team kept the airline soaring, even while many around the world, were not as bold.

Ladies and gentlemen, Fiji Airways has long been a source of pride for our nation, connecting our islands to the world and serving as a symbol of Fiji hospitality and resilience.

Shashank aptly describes Fiji Airways in his book as ‘the Jewel of the Pacific’, and we are all in agreement with this. While we revel in pride in the airline, we also honour the longstanding trust of shareholders from our Pacific neighborhood such as the Governments of Kiribati, Tonga, Samoa and Nauru as well as Qantas and Air New Zealand. This edition belongs to them also.
Just as I mentioned earlier, the greatness Fiji Airways has managed to achieve despite our comparative smallness, is best captured in a recent airline "Pacific on Sale" campaign where they've brought in hotels and tourism operators from the Pacific into one big campaign to offer some cost-effective rates that include accommodation.

I understand this is a revived initiative from the airline from the 90s, where Pacific Triangle Fares were sold with hotel partnerships to any two other destinations in the Pacific within the airline network, with Fiji as the hub.

This to me exemplies "THE GREATNESS OF SMALL" as so inspirationally captured in Alibaba's 2018 Winter Olympics campaign.

"THE GREATNESS OF SMALL" brings home for me, the essence of what this third edition of SOAR has so eloquently captured, for others to draw from.

I’m pleased to note that the book does not simply heap praise on Fiji Airways. It dives into the strategies, the business culture, the people and the vision of the company.

It is an engaging and enlightening chronicle of how our airline set about elevating itself to become the best in the region.

It provides insights from the top of the company, right through to our frontline workers who live and breathe the values that Fiji Airways stands for. It is really quite motivational to read how those behind the company have embraced a common purpose and vision to make Fiji Airways the best that it can be.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have all witnessed the many achievements of the company, and now the world can read the amazing story of Fiji Airways - I am certain it will be a Best Seller! This edition should also serve as recommended reading for our MBA students who are readying themselves in the journey to become Pacific regional Leaders.

Our national airline continues to prove its strategic significance to our economy, but I will not go into too much detail, as this is laid out in detail in this special third edition, so I encourage you all to get your copy.

As the line minister for Fiji Airways, I assure the Board and management of the company that the People’s Coalition government stands with you, in full support of your initiatives going forward.

We greatly look forward to our airline soaring to greater, stratospheric heights.

Congratulations once again to Fiji Airways and of course Mr Shashank Nigam for this phenomenal edition of SOAR.

Vinaka vakalevu, dhanyavaad, and thank you.