Today sees more than $1.2 billion injected in the tourism and transport sector by Fiji Airways as the first of the three A330 planes arrived into our airspace.
Hopes are now high that the returns will be huge through this major investment.
The catalogue price for the new planes is $US200 million each and as revealed in 2011, the Fiji National Provident Fund gave Air Pacific a loan of $200 million which was the initial funding for the purchase of the three wide body planes.
85 percent of the loan to purchase the planes has come from offshore banks.
After bringing the new A330 home from Hong Kong, President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said this is a proud moment for Fiji and he was so grateful that the plane went over many parts of the country before landing in Nadi.
He also acknowledged Airbus for building a plane according to Fiji's specifications.
The President also said Fiji needs to move ahead after the unfortunate departure of outgoing CEO and Managing Director of Air Pacific, Dave Pflieger.
He said the plane with our masi designs is our national treasure and is named Island of Taveuni.
The second plane will be named Namuka-i-Lau to acknowledge the work of the masi designer, Makereta Matemosi.
The third plane is yet to be named.
The second and third A330's will arrive in May and November respectively.
Proud moment for Pilot
It was a proud moment for Air Pacific's Chief Pilot and General Manager Flight Operations, Josua Cavalevu to fly the new plane home.
Cavalevu said the most memorable moment would be them flying over Fiji yesterday.
0
Cavalevu said one of the Airbus staff said to him during the ceremony that was held in Toulouse that Fiji has given the aircraft blood and soul.
He said the Airbus aircraft has a lot of safety features and he said the automated technology will assist the pilots.
Earlier on...
Welcome home, Island of Taveuni
Fiji's first ever A330 plane named Island of Taveuni arrived in the country earlier today and there was cheering and scenes of celebrations from many parts of the country as the plane did a low altitude flight.
A water cannon salute took place for the plane at the Nadi International Airport in the last hour and formalities are currently underway as President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau stepped out of the A330 a few minutes ago.
It will be a story that will be talked about for many years by thousands of people.
We will now speak to people from different parts of the country who gathered in numbers to await the arrival of the new plane in our airspace.
This will be the only time that the plane will take this route as it will mainly fly out of Nadi.
Thousands of people gathered in Sigatoka town to witness the A330 fly over their town.
Sigatoka Town Council CEO Anand Pillay said it was a very exciting and proud moment for all of them to see their own airbus pass over the Coral Coast.
From Naevuevu Village, Nadroga, the Turaga ni Koro Asesela Yamoyamo shared the villagers reaction.
After Fiji's new A33O aircraft made its lap of honour around Suva this morning, some people were thrilled by the sight of our plane.
Fijivillage caught up with a few people and asked them about our new national icon.
People of Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki were overjoyed as they caught a glimpse of the new A330 with Fiji written on its belly.
Ba Town Council Special Administrator Arun Prasad said hundreds of people felt proud of the country's newest asset.
Meanwhile, Special Administrator Rakiraki Town Council Seini Raiko said this is the beginning of a new era for Fiji and people came out in numbers to see the plane.
Hundreds lined up the main streets of Labasa, vehicles stopped and no one even bothered that someone was getting late as the plane circled over the northern town.
Some even mixed grog in the morning and sat outside their houses or under the big baka trees to get the first glimpse of the airbus.
Labasa Chamber of Commerce President Ashok Karan said everything stopped in the Babasiga town and nearby areas earlier today.
Speaking from Hot Springs hotel, Maraia Silani said this is the first time ever for them to see a jet fly over Savusavu town.
We will have more from Nadi later this afternoon.
You can catch the photos of the plane flyover on our website, fijivillage.com and on our facebook account, fijivillage.com
Story by: Fijivillage team
