ONE of the co-pilots that flew Air Pacific's new A330 Airbus into the country yesterday was proud to be a part of the historic occasion.
Captain Josua Cavalevu, who captained the aircraft flight from Hong Kong to Fiji, was proud to be one of two local pilots.
"This is a very proud moment and a very special occasion not only for me but also for the staff of Air Pacific. But this is not just a special occasion for Air Pacific, it's also very special for the nation," said Capt Cavalevu.
He said the new Airbus would bring about positive changes to the local airline while maintaining its accident-free record.
"I see a very bright future for Air Pacific and we know that we can keep maintaining our success for the future not only for the airline but also for the people of Fiji," Capt Cavalevu said.
"In the last few years, we've put in a lot of effort and hard work. We are happy that it has come to this.
"When our CEO (Dave Pflieger) first came in, he told us that the status quo is not an option which meant that we had to change our mindset and change the way we did things as individuals and as a company ...," he said.
"And with that kind of outlook, we have seen a lot of great opportunities and changes for the company and I hope it continues into the future," he said.