Tropical Cyclone Winston prompts Fiji Airways to cancel flights

Fiji Airways and its domestic unit Fiji Link have cancelled scores of flights and changed the departure times of others in response to Tropical Cyclone Winston.

In terms of its Australian operations, Saturday’s FJ910 Sydney-Nadi and FJ915 Nadi-Sydney flights have been cancelled, as well as FJ930 from Melbourne to Nadi and the FJ922 Brisbane-Nadi service.

Also, the departure time for Saturday’s Nadi-Brisbane (FJ923) and Nadi-Melbourne (FJ931) flights have been moved forward.

Fiji Airways is also offering a fee waiver for affected passengers and warns travellers to expect more disruptions in the days ahead.

“Fiji Airways would like to advise our passengers that due to adverse weather conditions associated with Tropical Cyclone Winston, Fiji Airways and Fiji Link flights will be affected over the next few days,” Fiji Airways said on its website.

“Current weather models indicate the Fiji Group is expected to receive destructive winds and heavy rain starting early Sunday morning up until early next week.”

The full list of Fiji Airways flight cancellations and departure time changes can be found here.

While Air New Zealand was yet to cancel services, the airline was warning passengers booked to travel to Fiji this weekend their flights could be disrupted due to Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The Star Alliance member said on Friday those with tickets to Fiji can change their travel plans – either to a different date or different destination – without paying a change fee, although in some cases any fare difference may apply.

“Air New Zealand advises flights to and from Nadi, Fiji this weekend may be affected by Tropical Cylone Winston which has increased in strength to become a Category 4 cyclone,” the airline said in a statement.

“Air New Zealand is recommending customers with existing bookings for flights to Fiji this weekend reconsider their plans.”

The airline said on its website it would continue to monitor the situation.

The Fiji Metrological Service said on Thursday it Tropical Cyclone Winston could briefly intensify to briefly reach Category 5 before dropping back to Category 4, bringing with it damaging gale force winds.