Published: June 17, 2025
Fiji and Simorg: Oceans Apart, United in the Pursuit of Innovation
In the fourth edition of our Customer Focus Series, we travel to the Pacific to feature Fiji Airways Aviation Academy, one of Simorg’s earliest partners. Under the leadership of Centre Manager Krish Goundar, the academy has transformed into a regional hub for aviation training, combining world-class standards with digital innovation. Their journey with Simorg reflects a shared vision for smarter, scalable, and more efficient training operations.
Introduction to Fiji Airways and Aviation Academy
Fiji Airways, the national airline of Fiji, connects the Pacific to the world with an extensive network of flights. Known for its exceptional hospitality and commitment to safety, the airline has become a symbol of Fijian pride. As the fully integrated training facility of the airline, Fiji Airways Aviation Academy provides world-class training to Fiji Airways crew and customer airlines globally. Offering access to top-tier aviation training in such a relaxed tropical environment makes the academy one of the most unique centers in the world.
Introduction to Krish Goundar (Centre Manager, Fiji Airways Aviation Academy)
Krish Goundar, an expert in aviation training and a leader with more than 15 years of experience, provides invaluable guidance to Fiji Airways’ training initiatives. Krish plays a crucial role in ensuring the highest standards of training and operational efficiency at the Fiji Airways Aviation Academy.
Mert: You are one of the first customers of Simorg. How did all this start?
Krish: The in-house training operations at Fiji Airways actually began around the same time as Simorg, which made the business transition much smoother. Before Simorg, we were operating with fragmented systems and manual processes that were difficult to manage. Digitalization here improved accuracy and saved us valuable time.
Mert: How was the Fiji training operation then?
Krish: There are two answers to this question. One is about our own airline, and the other is about providing training services externally. Back then, Fiji’s flight operation was much smaller, and the number of training service providers in the region was very limited. The airline had a vision to grow into a major fleet, and the training aspect had to keep the same pace. We were seeking adequate training slots in nearby regions like Singapore or Thailand with no luck at all. At that point, our vision shifted—to become a solution provider rather than a solution seeker. That was the turning point, and Simorg played a great role in supporting us throughout this journey. Now, our academy is saving over $10 million annually in training expenses and attracting significant interest from other international airlines.
Mert: Are there any key areas Simorg really helped Fiji along those years?
Krish: Using Simorg since day one has been a game-changer for us. It centralizes our scheduling and compliance processes. It has also been a perfect fit for our unique reporting needs. We are able to tell you “What’s going on?” in a matter of minutes.
Mert: You have been using Simorg for five years, and now the academy is in the process of adopting more modules of Simorg. How was this decision taken?
Krish: We aim to fully streamline our airline’s training operations very soon. With new modules, we are willing to maximize the number of slots to be offered externally, ensuring that other airlines from the Pacific region do not face the same challenges we have experienced.
Mert: Fiji is an interesting airline, operating on an island. How does this fact shape your vision for the training aspect of the business?
Krish: This facility is very important for Fiji and has a mission to be a window for Fijian people on modern airline training. Since day one, our vision has always been to set a benchmark for aviation training in the region. Investing in the academy and adopting Simorg were natural steps to achieve this goal. Now we are in the second phase and have projected spending $130 million on the expansion project.
Results and Benefits
- Efficiency Streamlined scheduling and compliance processes, saving significant time.
- Scalability Supported rapid growth and the ability to offer training slots externally.
- Innovation Enhanced training operations with digital solutions tailored to unique needs.
Quote from Krish Goundar
"Simorg has been a transformative tool for our training operations. It’s not just a software platform; it’s a solution that has helped us redefine efficiency and innovation in aviation training."
GDA Perspective-Mert Yağcı
"We have always had great communication with the Fiji team. They are a great airline with a high priority on training and early adopters of digitalization. It is great to see Simorg expanding over the years while the simulator center grows."
