Fiji Airways coverts ATR aircraft for freight operations on 05th June 2020. [Source: Supplied]

Fiji Airways recently converted a Fiji Link ATR 72-600 aircraft to a freighter configuration to operate a cargo trip to Port Villa, Vanuatu.

This is the first time the airline has reconfigured its ATR aircraft for freight operations.

The freighter service carried 3.8 tonnes of cargo from Nadi to Port Vila and 1.6 tonnes on the return sector on Sunday.

[Source: Supplied]

Outbound freight included medical supplies, while the inbound carried a number of consolidated items, including coffee and mail.

Chief executive Andre Viljoen, says the airline remains committed to operating freight services to maintain essential supply lines between Fiji and its key markets, and have been exploring ways to similarly assist its regional neighbours.

He says with the approval of aircraft manufacturer ATR, regulator CAAF as well as the relevant governments, they were able to reconfigure and operate the first ATR freighter to Port Vila.

Another ATR freighter service is scheduled for Nuku’alofa, Tonga next week.