Kiribati says Fiji's national carrier, Air Pacific, is to start run a service from Nadi to Christmas Island in Kiribati and on to Hawaii.
Kiribati's permanent secretary for transport, Tebwee Ietaake, says the flights are to begin later this year.
But for this to happen, the service must have the approval of Fiji's Civil Aviation Authority and the U.S Transport and Security Agency.
Under an air services agreement to be signed soon, security at the airport on Christmas Island is to be upgraded and fire trucks purchased.
