Fiji Link (FJA, Nadi) has officially taken delivery of its first ATR72-600, DQ-FJZ (cn 1146), from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) following a handing over ceremony in Toulouse on Tuesday. The turboprop is expected in Fiji on Friday, June 6 with its delivery flight routed Toulouse Blagnac - Alexandria Borg el Arab - Colombo International - Singapore Seletar - Suva.

On lease from Singapore-based aircraft lessors Avation PLC, the ATR72 joins two ATR42-500s and three DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. With the arrival of a first ATR42-600 and a second ATR72-600 in November and December, so the airline intends to retire the pair of ATR42-500s.

“What this acquisition will allow us to do is match demand with the right capacity. Due to its size, our new ATR will operate between Fiji’s larger ports – Nadi, Suva and Labasa - and from Fiji to other Pacific island destinations, so naturally we will increase frequency of flights between to our Regional Ports,” Nalin Patel, Pacific Sun’s Chairman, said.

The occasion also marked the official rebranding of Pacific Sun (Nadi) as Fiji Link in line with a precedent laid out by parent Fiji Airways (FJ, Nadi) in which the carrier should have a "distinct, yet part-of-the-family look."