Former Virgin Australia CEO Paul Scurrah has been appointed as the incoming Managing Director and CEO of Fiji Airways, effective 1 November 2025.

In announcing the appointment, the Fiji Airways board highlighted Scurrah’s more than two decades of experience across aviation, transport, logistics and tourism, most recently as CEO of Australian rail freight company Pacific National.

During his time at Virgin Australia, the nation’s second-largest airline, Scurrah’s “strategic leadership” was credited with steering the airline through the trials of the pandemic, described as “one of the most turbulent periods in modern aviation”.

His leadership style is described as “marked by operational discipline and a strong safety ethos,” with the board highlighting his reputation for motivating diverse teams and delivering long-term results.

The result of a comprehensive search process, the appointment sees Scurrah take the reins from outgoing Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen who is departing after a decade.

The Board thanked Viljoen for his his “exceptional” leadership,” under which Fiji Airways achieved significant growth, global recognition and post-pandemic recovery. Under his tenure, the airline became an APEX World Class Airline 2026, improved its SKYTRAX rating to 4 Stars, doubled its fleet from 12 to 23 aircraft, and launched the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy.

Viljoen, who is taking a role at Air Mauritius, will remain on the Fiji Airways Board of Directors.