Fiji Airways, the national carrier of Fiji, has operated its first charter flight from Nadi to Tel Aviv, Israel, in partnership with the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) and Faith Harvest Church. The flight, which took place on September 28, 2023, carried more than 250 evangelical Christians from Fiji and other Pacific islands who wanted to participate in the annual Feast of Tabernacles celebration in Jerusalem.
A historic flight for Fiji Airways and Fiji
The charter flight, which was operated by an Airbus A330-200 named ‘Island Of Yasawa-i-rara’, marked the first time that Fiji Airways has flown to Israel. The flight also made history as the first direct connection between Fiji and the Holy Land, as well as the longest flight ever undertaken by a Fijian aircraft.
The flight departed from Nadi International Airport at 08:08 local time, after a slight delay of 20 minutes. It flew for nine hours and 38 minutes to Hong Kong, where it had a two-hour stopover before continuing its journey to Tel Aviv. The flight crossed over Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, India, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Jordan before landing at Ben Gurion International Airport at 21:59 local time, nine minutes behind schedule.
The flight was welcomed by Israeli officials and representatives of the ICEJ, who expressed their gratitude and excitement for the historic occasion. The passengers were also greeted with traditional Israeli music and dancing, as well as gifts and refreshments.
A spiritual journey for the passengers
The passengers on board the charter flight were mostly members of the Faith Harvest Church, a Pentecostal denomination based in Fiji that has branches in Samoa, the Cook Islands and Tonga. The church has been organizing trips to Israel for its members since 2016, but this was the first time that they were able to fly directly from Fiji without having to transit through other countries.
The passengers said that they were looking forward to celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as Sukkot, which is one of the three biblical festivals that commemorate God’s provision and protection for the Israelites during their 40 years in the wilderness. The festival also celebrates the harvest season and the joy of living in God’s presence.
The passengers said that they wanted to show their love and support for Israel, as well as to experience the biblical sites and learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith. They also said that they hoped to strengthen their relationship with God and with each other during their 10-day stay in Israel.
A potential boost for tourism and trade between Fiji and Israel
The charter flight was also seen as a potential opportunity to boost tourism and trade between Fiji and Israel, two countries that have established diplomatic relations since 1970. Fiji Airways said that it was open to operating more charter flights to Israel in the future, depending on the demand and feasibility. The airline also said that it was exploring other new destinations in Asia and Europe to expand its network and offer more options to its customers.
Israel’s ambassador to Fiji, Tibor Schlosser, said that he was delighted by the charter flight and hoped that it would pave the way for more regular flights between the two countries. He said that Israel was interested in increasing its cooperation with Fiji in various fields, such as agriculture, water management, renewable energy, health care and education. He also said that Israel appreciated Fiji’s contribution to peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and its support for Israel’s right to exist.
