Fiji Airways has appointed Paul Scurrah as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive, effective 1 November. He succeeds Andre Viljoen, who has led the airline for the past decade and will continue to support the transition in an advisory role. Viljoen’s tenure saw Fiji Airways return to profitability after the pandemic, expand its long-haul capacity and secure entry into the oneworld alliance.
Scurrah brings more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across aviation, rail and logistics. He served as Chief Executive of Virgin Australia between 2019 and 2020, steering the airline through restructuring and network repositioning. He later became Chief Executive of Pacific National, Australia’s largest rail freight operator, overseeing national operations, major infrastructure projects and stakeholder partnerships.
His earlier career includes executive leadership roles at Queensland Rail, DP World Australia, Flight Centre, Ansett Australia and AOT Group. He has also served on boards in the tourism and community sectors, reflecting experience in both commercial operations and broader industry engagement.
Industry analysts describe his appointment as a continuation of the airline’s current strategic direction rather than a shift in course. Fiji Airways enters this new phase with strong passenger demand on Australia–Fiji and transpacific routes, high load factors and a well-regarded service brand within the region. The key challenge ahead will be maintaining reliability and operational stability at a time when global aircraft supply and crew capacity remain tight.
Scurrah is expected to focus on optimising cargo operations, strengthening loyalty programme performance and expanding commercial partnerships to widen network presence without overextending fleet resources. Ensuring sustained service quality and on-time performance is also seen as central to protecting the airline’s competitive position.
Fiji Airways remains a cornerstone of Fiji’s economy, influencing tourism flows, employment and international connectivity. With a stable market position and leadership continuity in place, the airline is seen as well positioned to shape the next phase of Fiji’s air transport and travel industry growth.
