Jet fuel shortfall at Nadi International Airport triggers NOTAM limiting refuel, Fiji Airways protected while others divert to Noumea. Fix due in 2 days.
Cover image: Departure gates 5-6 at Nadi International Airport, where fuel NOTAM limited uplifts — photo by Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fiji Airways Nadi fuel shortage is forcing temporary limits at Nadi International Airport, with a NOTAM telling incoming flights to carry extra fuel before landing. Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka said on 26 August that the shortfall is temporary and a confirmed new shipment arrives in two days, after which the restriction ends. Fiji Airways and MedEvac flights were given priority.
The NOTAM's wording was blunt: do not plan to refuel in Nadi, fill up before you come. Last week Virgin Australia was among airlines that had to reroute to Noumea due to the limits, while Fiji Airways avoided disruption by uplifting elsewhere.
What is the Nadi fuel restriction?
FBC News reports the NOTAM remains in force but will lift when the new delivery lands. Gavoka's quote: "It is still in force, but in two days' time, a new shipment arrives, confirmed, delivered, and it will be over." The instruction to carriers was: "do not refuel in Nadi. Fill up before you come to Nadi". The airport could not assure extra supply beyond priority users, so inbound aircraft were asked to tanker fuel from the origin.
The impact varied by carrier. Fiji Airways, as the national airline, was protected and kept its schedule intact. MedEvac services were also protected. Other airlines without tanker capability had to adjust, as Virgin Australia's Noumea reroute showed. For context on Pacific island operations, see Bali tourist arrivals 9.83 million January-July 2026 which tracks how island hubs manage peak-season capacity.
When will supply normalize?
Gavoka's timeline points to early September normalization within days of the 26 August report. Officials said the new delivery is confirmed and will end the NOTAM. Demand is the cited driver: airlines restored full timetables after the fuel crisis in the Middle East, pushing jet fuel burn above the planned delivery cycle to Fiji. Fiji's location makes resupply lumpy, with shipments timed to quarterly or monthly demand rather than daily pipeline feed.
Travellers with Fiji bookings in late August and early September should check with the airline whether their flight tankers fuel at the origin, which can add 15–30 minutes to turn times and occasionally trim payload on very long sectors. Fiji Airways has not listed cancellations tied to the NOTAM, unlike the carrier's 75th anniversary publicity flights noted separately by Fiji Sun.
What should travellers do now?
If you fly to or via Nadi in the next few days, expect no change if you are on Fiji Airways. If you are on other carriers, confirm the flight is not weight-restricted or re-routed via Noumea. Keep 2–3 hours of buffer for misconnects at Nadi if your inbound is delayed by fuel planning, and monitor NOTAMs via your airline. For general island travel planning, Best time to visit Bali explains seasonality that also applies to Fiji's dry May–October peak, while Is Bali safe covers similar safety checks for island stays.
| Item | Nadi fuel NOTAM |
|---|---|
| Airport | Nadi International (NAN) |
| Restriction | Uplift extra fuel before Nadi, no assured refuel at Nadi |
| Protected | Fiji Airways and MedEvac |
| Reported impact | Virgin Australia rerouted to Noumea last week |
| Resolution | New shipment in 2 days, NOTAM to lift |
Frequently asked questions
What is happening at Nadi Airport with fuel?
A temporary jet fuel shortfall at Nadi International Airport led to a NOTAM telling incoming flights to uplift fuel elsewhere before landing. Fiji Airways and MedEvac were protected while others faced limits.
Are Fiji Airways flights cancelled?
Fiji Airways operations were kept intact via priority and extra uplift elsewhere, according to Deputy PM Viliame Gavoka. Last week Virgin Australia was among carriers that had to reroute to Noumea.
When will Nadi fuel supply normalize?
Gavoka said a confirmed new shipment arrives in two days and it will be over, with the NOTAM still in force until then. Officials expect supply to normalize by month's end.
Why did Nadi run short on jet fuel?
Officials linked the crunch to demand jumping as airlines restored full timetables after the Middle East fuel crisis, outpacing the scheduled delivery cycle to Fiji.
