World Best Airlines

1947 Registered as Katafaga Estates Limited by Australian aviator Harold Gatty.1951Commenced regular domestic services. Over the years, Air Pacific's routes have been serviced by a changing fleet of aircraft including Dragon Rapides, De Havilland Herons, Drovers, a McDonnell Douglas Turbo-Beaver and DC3s as well as Hawker Siddeley 748s.1971Name changed to "Air Pacific." Fleet changed to Aerospace BAC1-11s and HS748.1974Commenced services to Auckland.1975Commenced services to Brisbane via Noumea.1983Began services to Honolulu from Nadi with a DC10.1985Formalized Management Support Agreement with Qantas.19861st Year of profit. Air Pacific has been profitable every year since 1986.1998Qantas increased its equity in Air Pacific to 46.05%. The Fiji Government holds 51%. Staff now number 730, and the Engineering department was corporatised in September.1999Delivery of two Boeing 737-800s (DQ-FJG Island of "Kadavu" and DQ-FJH "Island of Gau")2000Due to political crises and ensuing dramatic decline in tourism arrivals, second of leased 747s (DQ-FJI) returned to Qantas.2002April 20th - 3rd service to Narita Japan commenced2003April 14th - 1st leased 747-400 (DQ-FJJ "Island of Vanua Levu") enters serviceMay 30th - $25.14 million profit announcedJune 26th - 2nd leased 747-400 (DQ-FJL "Island of Viti Levu" deliveredJune 27th - 4th service to Los Angeles commencedJune 28th - 747-200 returned to Qantas