David Pflieger Leaves Behind Positive Legacy at Fiji Airways

When David Pflieger ended his tenure as Managing Director and CEO of Air Pacific, he left behind a legacy of positive change and innovation. He accepted the role in 2010 after the company’s board which was comprised of Fiji government and Qantas representatives, overwhelmingly voted to recruit an experienced international airline executive to restore the ailing company back to profitability. While Dave was hired to simply turn the carrier around from years of worsening record losses, Mr. Pflieger ultimately did much more than that. Indeed, after only two years in Fiji, David Pflieger succeeded not only in restoring the company to record profitability after its record losses, he also establishing the airline as a noteworthy player in the international aviation sector. 

In particular, under Mr. Pflieger’s leadership, Air Pacific received its first recognition from Condé Nast as one of the top five small airlines in the world. Mr. Pflieger accomplished this via a comprehensive turnaround and rebranding effort that saw Air Pacific dramatically improve operational reliability and customer service, reduce costs, increase revenue, renew its fleet with new aircraft, change its name to Fiji Airways, and embrace community involvement. In addition to a visual rebranding and a new fleet of Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the turnaround featured the addition of a new corporate social responsibility program. 

When Dave Pflieger and his family returned to the United States at the conclusion of his role in Fiji, the positive outcome of the Air Pacific turnaround was clear and the airline has only continued to grow and thrive since that time. Mr. Pflieger remained on the Board after he left and he played a significant role in identifying a successor and facilitating the new executive’s smooth transition.