Fiji Airports and Incheon International Airport Corporation strengthen partnership to advance Pacific aviation training

Incheon International Airport Corporation Chief Administration Officer and Vice President Ga Kyun Shin (left), Fiji Airports Board Chairman Isei Tudreu (centre) and Fiji Airports Chief Executive Officer Mesake Nawari following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding

Fiji Airports and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) have strengthened their partnership through a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at advancing aviation training and professional development in Fiji and across the Blue Pacific.

The MoU, signed by Fiji Airports Board Chairman Isei Tudreu and Incheon International Airport Corporation Chief Administration Officer and Vice President Ga Kyun Shin at the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy in Nadi on 1 September 2026, establishes a framework for cooperation between the two organisations in aviation training, knowledge sharing and professional development.

Fiji Airports Chief Executive Mesake Nawari said the partnership represented an important step towards strengthening aviation capability, developing people and building greater resilience across Fiji and the Pacific.

For many Pacific Small Island Developing States, access to specialised aviation training can involve significant cost, long-distance travel and extended periods away from home and the workplace.

Mr Nawari said Fiji was well positioned to help address this challenge.

“Aviation is a lifeline. Because aviation plays such a critical role in our region, we must continue investing in the people who make safe, secure and reliable air connectivity possible,” Mr Nawari said.

“Our ambition is to develop the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy into a regional aviation training centre of excellence for the Blue Pacific.

“We want to create a centre where aviation professionals from Fiji and our neighbouring Pacific Island countries can access high-quality, internationally recognised training closer to home.”

Incheon International Airport Corporation Chief Administration Officer and Vice President Ga Kyun Shin said the MoU would create opportunities to expand practical cooperation between the two organisations.

“Through this MoU, we look forward to expanding our practical cooperation, including customised training programmes and joint training initiatives for Fiji and the wider Pacific region,” Mr Shin said.

The relationship between Fiji Airports and IIAC began through engagement at the ICAO Training Symposium in Singapore in 2025 and has since developed through ongoing discussions, technical engagement and exchanges between the two organisations.

The MoU provides for cooperation in areas including the development and delivery of training programmes, the exchange of training courses and instructors, the sharing of training information and curricula, and the provision of specialised and customised training.

Mr Nawari said the partnership came at an important time as the Pacific aviation sector continued to evolve and demand increased for skilled professionals across air traffic management, aerodrome operations, aviation security, safety, rescue and firefighting, airport management and other specialised aviation disciplines.

He said strong international partnerships would be critical to achieving the Aviation Academy’s long-term vision.

“This partnership reflects a strong alignment between Fiji Airports’ aspirations for aviation training in the Pacific and IIAC’s significant expertise and experience,” Mr Nawari said.

“Our goal is to create an environment where a young Fijian considering a future in aviation can see a clear pathway towards developing world-class skills.

“At the same time, we want aviation professionals from across the Pacific to be able to access specialised training closer to home.”

The partnership supports Fiji Airports’ broader strategic objective of strengthening aviation capability to enhance connectivity, support tourism and trade, contribute to economic resilience and ensure Fiji and the wider Pacific are equipped to respond to the changing demands of global aviation.

Incheon International Airport Corporation Chief Administration Officer and Vice President Ga Kyun Shin (left) and Fiji Airports Board Chairman Isei Tudreu sign the Memorandum of Understanding at the Fiji Airports Aviation Academy in Nadi

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