Fiji Airways prepares for influx of passengers as Aussies flock to island nation from December 1

There’s nothing worse than getting on a long-haul flight and having a pesky, distracted child on-board with you – but one airline might’ve solved the issue.

Anyone that’s been on a long-haul flight knows there’s few things worse than being stuck on a plane with a rowdy or upset child.

And while things like iPads and iPhones have remedied the situation to a point, parents that are hoping to cut down on their kids screentime, or worse, are left with a flat battery on the plane, are well aware that things don’t always go to plan.

Enter Fiji Airways, which is already in overdrive preparing for the nation’s reopening to international travellers from December 1.

Fiji Airways will reopen to international tourists from next month.

Fiji will reopen to fully vaccinated travellers, including Australians, from next month, provided a negative Covid test is submitted within 72 hours of the flight.

Fiji has also seen an incredible surge in its vaccination rate with 95 per cent of the population having received one dose and more than 80 per cent of people fully vaccinated.

The resumption of international travel means there’s been a mammoth effort to get Fiji ready to go – and Fiji Airways has been focused on making their flights not only more family-friendly, but also sustainable.

The airline will, from December 1, offer in-flight activity packs to children aged between 2 and 12.

The packs, called Our Ocean, Our Life, include all the things necessary to distract children and also five small books that educate kids about why sustainability and caring for the environment in Fiji is so important.

Fiji was the first Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to announce a net-zero target for 2050 and the airline’s activity features Saboo the turtle, who takes kids on a quest to help the environment.

Kids receiving their activity pack. Picture: Fiji Airways

The Our Ocean, Our Life packs teach kids about sustainability. Picture: Fiji Airways

Fiji Airways Managing Director and CEO Andre Viljoen told news.com.au the airline had been working hard to better the experience for its customers.

“During these 18 months of no travel, we have worked hard to enhance our customer's experience in numerous ways, and Our Ocean, Our Life is just one of the many new products that we can’t wait to share with Australians from December 1,” he said.

“We understand the challenges that parents face when trying to keep their little ones entertained during a flight and wanted to pioneer a new way to engage our younger travellers with something that resonated with our passion for conservation.

“We know that kids love to watch the complimentary entertainment on the in-flight screens but with the launch of Our Ocean, Our Life activity packs, kids can take a break from the screen and get hands on with colourful marine characters instead.”

The five characters teach kids key environmental messages around recycling, reducing plastic, turtle conservation, climate change, mangrove reforestation and more.

“What's more, once they land in Fiji, kids can experience real-life conservation activities on a number of resorts which helped to inspire the characters and their stories,” Mr Viljoen said.

The Our Ocean, Our Life campaign is in addition to Fiji Airway’s Every Take Off … One Tree which sees the nation’s department of forestry plant one tree for every international flight.

More than 55,000 trees have been planted since the project was started.