Fiji's coalition government is taking decisive steps to enhance air and sea connectivity for the Yasawa Group, with plans for a new airport and improved ferry services aimed at strengthening access, opportunity, and services for island communities.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Viliame Gavoka informed Parliament of the progress of the Yasawa Feasibility Study, a joint $400,000 initiative between the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Public Works, Meteorological Services and Transport, supported technically by Fiji Airports Limited.
“The Government is fully committed to ensuring the success of this project, with a total of $400,000 allocated across two key ministries: the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation with $150,000 within its consultancy budget, and the Ministry of Public Works with $250,000 for the feasibility study of the Yasawa airport,” Gavoka said.
He explained that the study forms part of a broader national vision to improve connectivity to Fiji’s outer islands, noting its “immense significance for the people of the Yasawa Islands” and its role in “enhancing access to the Yasawa Islands, benefiting both local communities and Fiji’s broader economic development.”
Initial discussions have already taken place between the two ministries, with Fiji Airports Limited providing technical assistance in developing the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the study, which Gavoka said was “now nearing finalisation.”
“The TOR will provide the framework for the study, outlining its scope, objectives, and deliverables, and ensuring that all relevant technical, environmental, and socio-economic factors are thoroughly considered,” he said.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, Fiji Airports has also conducted a site assessment of the proposed location for the new Yasawa airport, focusing on terrain, land use, and alignment with aviation standards. A Steering Committee will be convened to oversee the study’s progress and coordinate technical assessments.
“One of the key parts of an airport feasibility study is understanding the demand — in other words, whether there is enough need and traffic to justify the development,” Gavoka said. “This begins with looking at passenger projections, where we forecast how many people and how much freight the airport is likely to handle over time.”
He said environmental assessments will also be integral to the study, “carefully assessing how the proposed airport might affect the surrounding ecosystems, wildlife, and air quality,” while ensuring compliance with both national and international environmental standards.
Complementing the aviation initiative, Gavoka highlighted that sea connectivity will also be enhanced through the South Sea Cruises Group’s new Yasawa Flyer III — a 30-metre, 320-passenger vessel set to enter service in August 2025.
“This 30-metre fast ferry has a capacity of approximately 320 passengers, which is about 33 per cent higher than its predecessor,” he said. “It will provide more frequent and reliable daily services between Port Denarau and the Yasawa Islands.”
Gavoka said the goalition government’s coordinated approach between air and sea transport “is setting the foundation for the future of civil aviation in the Yasawa Group,” with the goal of creating “a safe, efficient, and sustainable air transport link that complements sea connectivity and supports the long-term growth of tourism and trade.”
“The new Yasawa airport will not only bring the islands closer to the rest of Fiji but also open new pathways for investment, employment, and service delivery,” he concluded. “This project is about giving the people of Yasawa greater access to opportunity and ensuring that no community remains isolated in our national development agenda.”
