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Former Virgin Australia boss Paul Scurrah has been appointed the new chief executive of Fiji Airways.
Scurrah, who led Australia’s second-largest airline group from 2019 until his resignation in 2020 following its COVID-19-induced collapse into voluntary administration, will take the helm at Fiji’s national carrier on 1 November as current CEO Andre Viljoen steps down.
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As Virgin CEO, Scurrah had in 2020 begun the process of streamlining the airline’s fleet and shifting to a mid-market strategy following its sale to Bain Capital, a strategy carried on by his successor Jayne Hrdlicka, who has since herself stepped down as CEO.
According to Fiji Airways chairman Nalin Patel, Scurrah, who has been CEO of rail freight company Pacific National for the last two years, “built strong momentum across operations, employee engagement, and customer satisfaction” during his time at Virgin.
“He was recognised for his strategic leadership, steering the airline through one of the most turbulent periods in modern aviation, the COVID-19 pandemic. When international travel came to a halt, Mr Scurrah led a rapid and complex restructuring that preserved core routes, safeguarded jobs, and positioned the airline for recovery,” he said.
“Marked by operational discipline and a strong safety ethos, Mr Scurrah’s leadership style is defined by integrity, resilience, and strategic clarity. He is widely regarded for his ability to motivate diverse teams, foster high-performance cultures, and deliver long-term, measurable results in the most challenging environments.
“The Board is confident that under his leadership, Fiji Airways will be guided through the dynamic challenges of global aviation and beyond, continuing to thrive and delivering on its promise to be the airline of choice in the region and internationally, while maintaining strong financial discipline, customer excellence, and national pride.”
Patel said Scurrah had been chosen following a “comprehensive internal, national and global search process”.
“Mr Scurrah brings to the role more than two decades of executive experience across aviation, transport, logistics and tourism,” he said.
“His proven track record in leading complex organisations, driving cultural transformation, results-driven leadership, and delivering exceptional stakeholder value makes him an ideal leader for our next chapter.”
Viljoen, who has taken up his former role as CEO of Air Mauritius, will remain on the Fiji Airways board. The carrier said there was no conflict of interest as the two airlines serve different regions, and thanked him for his leadership.
“Under his stewardship, the airline achieved significant growth, navigating unprecedented global challenges, emerging stronger and more resilient. His commitment to excellence, innovation, and national pride has left a lasting legacy, and we thank him for his contribution to Fiji Airways,” the airline said.
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says:I think Fiji Airways have won the lottery with the appointment of Paul Scurrah. He was ahead of the game at Virgin and well-liked. Only COVID brought him down. I wish him well at his new role. Fiji company employees can look forward to stability and sustainable growth.