Caption for pic: Guinness World Records representative Chris Sheedy presents the certificate to Fiji Airways New Zealand Regional General Manager Shannon Currie on board the mid-air matrimony flight.
Five Couples Married Mid-Air to Set World Record for Highest Altitude Wedding
August 8, 2013 – Fiji Airways, Fiji’s national airline is the newest holder of a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title, soaring to 41,000 feet to set the record for the world’s ‘Highest Altitude Wedding on an Aeroplane’. Five couples exchanged vows on August 7 at 41,000 feet above sea level aboard a brand new Fiji Airways A330 to attain the record. The minimum altitude required to set this new world record was 40,000 feet.
To mark its brand launch, Fiji Airways, formerly Air Pacific, set out on a search for five couples to get married on board its flagship A330 aircraft on a flight from Auckland to Nadi, Fiji. More than 400 New Zealand couples entered hoping to be one of the lucky couples married in the business cabin winning a free flight and complimentary stay in Fiji to enjoy their honeymoon courtesy of the Radisson BLU Resort Fiji Denarau Island and The Westin Denarau Island Resort and Spa Fiji. Traditional Fijian masi artwork found inside the newly designed cabin and friendly Fijian cabin crew helped create an elegant celebration on board.
The record was made official by Guinness World Records adjudicator Chris Sheedy, who joined the couples on their flight to Fiji. The adjudicator verified the altitude and the wedding ceremony in New Zealand airspace, and awarded Fiji Airways with the record immediately.
Fiji Airways Acting Chief Executive Aubrey Swift said the airline was excited to claim a Guinness World Records achievement.
“This was a unique idea to get five couples married on board, in our bid to raise awareness of the new airline branding and of Fiji as a wedding and honeymoon destination,” said Swift. “With our new brand identity & service, based around an authentic Fijian experience, a couple’s Fijian wedding really can start the moment they set foot on board. We’re delighted that we were able to set a new Guinness World Record. We kept this as a surprise for our five couples and it was great to see their reaction when they found out they were part of this world record.”
Thousands of couples travel to Fiji every year to tie the knot but only the five lucky winners will be able to claim getting married aboard a record setting flight en route to their honeymoon.
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About FIJI AIRWAYS
Founded in 1951, Fiji Airways is the national airline of Fiji. It aims to become the airline of choice of the South Pacific, and the purchase and introduction of three new re-branded “Fiji Airways” Airbus A330-200s to replace its fleet of Boeing B747-400s and B767s will be the capstone of the airline’s success and turnaround from record losses just 3 years ago. From its hub at Nadi International Airport, Fiji Airways and its subsidiary Pacific Sun fly to 15 cities in 10 countries. Destinations include Australia, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Vanuatu, and Solomon Islands. Fiji Airways aircraft bring in over 64 percent of all visitors who fly to Fiji, and the two companies together employ over 900 employees, earn revenues of over F$675 million ($380m USD), and directly contribute a significant portion of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Fiji Airways rebranded from Air Pacific in June 2013.
For more information on Fiji Airways and to book a Fiji vacation, visit www.fijiairways.com.
About GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS
GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS is the universally recognised global authority on record-breaking achievements. First published in 1955, the annual GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ book has gone on to become one of the biggest-selling copyright title of all time selling over 2.7 million copies a year. Since its launch nearly 60 years ago over 130 million copies – including 400,000 ebooks – have been sold in 20 languages, in more than 100 countries. The internationally renowned brand is also available across a number of platforms; GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS global television shows are watched by 750 million viewers annually, over 390,000 users subscribe to GWR’s two YouTube channels, with over 188 million views and 1.25 million fans on Facebook. In 2013, Officially Amazing became the registered trademark of Guinness World Records Limited.
For more information on Guinness World Records, visit www.guinnessworldrecords.com