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{{short description|Flag carrier of Vanuatu}}

factoids

Air Vanuatu is an airline with its head office in Air Vanuatu House, Port Vila, Vanuatu.WEB, Contact us,weblink Air Vanuatu, 17 May 2024,weblink 11 May 2024, live, It is Vanuatu's national flag carrier, operating to Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and points in the South Pacific. Its main base is Bauerfield International Airport, Port Vila.Flight International 27 March 2007 In May 2024 the airline was placed into voluntary administration by the Government of Vanuatu.

History

(File:Atr AV73.jpg|thumb|Air Vanuatu ATR 72 in 2024)File:Another view of Air Vanuatu's 737-800 YJ-AV1, Auckland, April 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Boeing 737-800 YJ-AV1, Air Vanuatu's former flagship, at Auckland AirportAuckland Airport(File:Air Vanuatu (YJ-AV5) Harbin Y-12 IV at Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila.jpg|thumb|right|Air Vanuatu Harbin Y-12)Air Vanuatu was established in early 1981 after Vanuatu gained independence from the United Kingdom and France the previous year. The assistance of Ansett Airlines was sought and a five-year agreement put in place for Ansett to provide aircraft and operating staff. Ansett also took a 40% stake in the new airline, the government of Vanuatu holding the other 60%.WEB, World airline directory,weblink Flightglobal/Archive, 17 May 2024,weblink 22 October 2012, 3 April 1982, dead, The first Air Vanuatu flight, a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31 owned and operated by Ansett, departed Sydney for Port Vila on 5 September 1981.Reid, Gordon. "1988 Major Airline Directory", Australian Aviation magazine, No. 44, May/June 1988, p40. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., Weston Creek ACT. {{ISSN|0813-0876}} In May 1982 a Boeing 737-200 of Polynesian Airlines replaced the DC-9; this was replaced in turn by an Ansett 737-200 in October 1985.Reid, Gordon. "1986 Major Airline Directory", Australian Aviation magazine, No. 33, July/August 1986, p39. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., Weston Creek ACT. {{ISSN|0813-0876}} In March 1986, the agreement with Ansett expired and was not renewed, this had the effect of grounding the airline.In 1987, the company was re-established with 100% ownership by the government of Vanuatu,WEB, World Airline Directory,weblink Flightglobal/Archive, 17 May 2024,weblink 22 October 2012, 1 April 1989, dead, after a new commercial agreement was signed with Australian Airlines; weekly Sydney – Port Vila flights re-commenced on 19 December using a Boeing 727-200 chartered from Australian. Air Vanuatu subsequently bought the aircraft in 1989 and leased it back to Australian for use on that airline's network on days that it was not used by Air Vanuatu. In November 1992 the 727 was replaced by a Boeing 737-400 leased from Australian Airlines. The following year an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante was also leased from Australian, entering service that April to operate flights between Port Vila and Nouméa. The leases on both aircraft continued after Australian was taken over by Qantas in October 1993, with the commercial agreement being rolled-over to Qantas as well.Reid, Gordon. "Major Airline Directory", Australian Aviation magazine, No. 96, May 1994, p75. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., Weston Creek ACT. {{ISSN|0813-0876}} Qantas is deeply involved in the airline's operations to this day; Air Vanuatu uses Qantas Frequent Flyer program, Qantas codeshares on Air Vanuatu's flights from Australia, and provides maintenance and pilot training services as well.Air Vanuatu terminated the lease on the Qantas Boeing 737-400 after it took delivery of its own Boeing 737-300 in April 1997. The same month Bandeirante services ceased when a Saab 2000 entered service.Reid, Gordon. "Major Airline Directory", Australian Aviation magazine, No. 150, May 1999, p50. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., Weston Creek ACT. {{ISSN|0813-0876}} The lease on the Saab 2000 was terminated in March 1999 and in June that year Air Vanuatu commenced using a de Havilland Canada Dash 8 of Vanuatu's government-owned domestic carrier Vanair on weekly services to Nouméa.Reid, Gordon. "Major Airline Directory", Australian Aviation magazine, No. 161, May 2000, p56. Aerospace Publications Pty. Ltd., Weston Creek ACT. {{ISSN|0813-0876}} In April 2001 Air Vanuatu merged with Vanair, however the merger was reversed only five months later.NEWS, Vanuatu industry: Air Vanuatu merges with bankrupt domestic carrier,weblink 17 May 2024, Economist Intelligence Unit, 16 April 2001,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20220118104348weblink">weblink 18 January 2022, subscription, WEB, Air Vanuatu & Vanair DEMERGE,weblink South Pacific Tourism Organisation, 17 May 2024,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120731200841weblink">weblink 31 July 2012, September 2001, live, November 2003 an ATR 42 entered service for use on domestic routes in competition with Vanair.Flight International, 18–24 November 2003, p.15 In September 2004, Air Vanuatu again merged with Vanair.In January 2008, Air Vanuatu replaced its Boeing 737-300 with a new Boeing 737-800.NEWS, Willieq, Royson, NEW AIR VAN CEO ASSUMES OFFICE,weblink 17 May 2024, Vanuatu Daily Post, 5 January 2021,weblink 10 January 2021, Three Harbin Y-12s were added to the fleet in early 2009 and in October the same year the airline took delivery of a new ATR 72–500 aircraft to replace its ATR 42.WEB, Air Vanuatu starts operations of its first ATR 72-600,weblink Aviation News, 17 May 2024,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20170401031948weblink">weblink 1 April 2017, 9 November 2016, live, Four days after the ATR 72 arrived at Port Vila the Board of Air Vanuatu was sacked and replaced by Directors General of various Vanuatu government ministries.NEWS, Royson, Willie, Opposition says high salaries part of Air Vanuatu problems,weblink 17 May 2024, Vanuatu Daily Post, 3 November 2009,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20091107113701weblink">weblink 7 November 2009, dead, The ATR 72 made its first revenue flight for Air Vanuatu on 8 November 2009.Garae, Len. "ATR-72, a touch of international class" – Vanuatu Daily Post Online{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} retrieved 13 November 2009 A second ATR 72–500 was delivered to the airline in November 2014.JOURNAL, Second ATR for Air Vanuatu, Airliner World, January 2015, 17, In 2016 the Harbin Y-12s were phased out and replaced by de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters.NEWS, Air Vanuatu improves fleet,weblink 17 May 2024, RNZ, 24 September 2015,weblink 18 January 2022, live, In July 2020, Air Vanuatu announced a major set of changes for the airline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the reshuffling of orders and the shrinking and localization of the management team, the CEO Derek Nice stepped down, being temporarily replaced by Joseph Laloyer, until a replacement could be found. This included delaying the delivery of the four Airbus A220 aircraft it had on order, and a strategic review of their network.WEB, Curran, Andrew, Air Vanuatu Delays A220 Deliveries As New CEO Takes The Reins,weblink Simple Flying, Valnet Publishing Group, 17 May 2024,weblink 18 January 2022, 5 June 2020, live, In May 2024 the airline was placed into voluntary administration with EY appointed as administrator.NEWS, Bywater, Thomas, 10 May 2024, Hundreds of Air Vanuatu passengers stranded as airline enters voluntary administration,weblink The New Zealand Herald, 10 May 2024,weblink 12 May 2024, live, WEB, Air Vanuatu (Operations) Limited (In Liquidation),weblink Air Vanuatu, 17 May 2024,weblink 13 May 2024, 9 May 2024, live, Due to the collapse of Air Vanuatu, 1,458 Vanuatan seasonal workers were left stranded in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand confirmed that it was working with employers to support the workers.NEWS, Air Vanuatu liquidation: Seasonal workers from Vanuatu in limbo as airline grounds all flights,weblink 17 May 2024, New Zealand Herald, 14 May 2024,weblink 14 May 2024, live, The airline owed creditors US$74 million.Air Vanuatu owes creditors at least $120m, has sole international aircraft repossessed ''Stuff 16 May 2024 At the time of being placed in administration, it had six aircraft and 441 employees across Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand. Its biggest aircraft, a leased Boeing 737, was repossessed in Melbourne.NEWS, Air Vanuatu owes at least US$65m, liquidators say,weblink 17 May 2024, RNZ, 16 May 2024,weblink 16 May 2024, live,

Destinations

Domestic

{{As of|November 2009}} Air Vanuatu operated 28 domestic routes throughout the country.WEB

Malampa

• Craig Cove (Craig Cove Airport)
• Lamap (Malekoula Island Airport)
• Norsup (Norsup Airport)
• Paama (Paama Airport)
• South West Bay (South West Bay Airport)
• Ulei (Ulei Airport)

Penama

• Longana, east Ambae (Longana Airport)
• Naone, Maewo (Maewo-Naone Airport)
• Redcliffe, south Ambae (Redcliffe Airport)
• Lonorore, south Pentecost (Lonorore Airport)
• Sara, north Pentecost (Sara Airport)
• Walaha, west Ambae (Walaha Airport)

Shefa

• Émaé (Siwo Airport)
• Lamen Bay (Lamen Bay Airport)
• Tongoa (Tongoa Airport)
• Valesdir (Valesdir Airport)

Tafea

• Anatom (Anatom Airport)
• Aniwa (Aniwa Airport)
• Dillon's Bay (Dillon's Bay Airport)
• Futuna Island (Futuna Airport)
• Ipota (Ipota Airport)
• Tanna (White Grass Airport)

Torba

• Gaua (Gaua Airport)
• Mota Lava (Mota Lava Airport)
• Sola, Vanua Lava (Vanua Lava Airport)
• Torres Islands (Torres Airport)

File:ATR 42 at Port Vila - Vanuatu.jpg|thumb|right|A former Air Vanuatu ATR 42 aircraft at Bauerfield International Airport, Port VilaPort Vila

International charter flights

{{unref section|date=May 2024}}As of September 2020 Air Vanuatu commenced International Charter Flights to / from the following international destinations specialising in seasonal worker, company, diplomatic and freight charters throughout the Pacific Islands, South West Pacific, South East Asia, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.:{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}{|class="sortable wikitable tocccolors"!Country!City!Airport!class="unsortable"|Notes!Ref

	Adelaide>	Adelaide Airport>		align=center|

	Brisbane>	Brisbane Airport>		align=center|

	Cairns>	Cairns Airport>		align=center|

	Darwin, Northern Territory>Darwin	Darwin Airport	align=center

	Hobart>	Hobart Airport>		align=center|

	Melbourne>	Melbourne Airport>		align=center|

	Newcastle, New South Wales>Newcastle	Newcastle Airport, New South Wales	>		align=center|

	Perth>	Perth Airport>		align=center|

	Sydney>	Sydney Airport>		align=center|

	Sanya>	Sanya Phoenix International Airport>		align=center|

	Nadi>	Nadi International Airport>		align=center|

	Kiritimati>	Cassidy International Airport>		align=center|

	Tarawa>	Bonriki International Airport>		align=center|

	Nouméa>	La Tontouta International Airport>		align=center|

	Auckland>	Auckland Airport>		align=center|

	Christchurch>	Christchurch Airport>		align=center|

	Port Moresby>	Jacksons International Airport>		align=center|

	Apia>	Faleolo International Airport>		align=center|

	Honiara>	Honiara International Airport>		align=center|

	Nukuʻalofa>	Fuaʻamotu International Airport >		align=center|

	Funafuti>	Funafuti International Airport>		align=center|

|United States|San Francisco |San Francisco International Airport|

	Luganville>	Santo-Pekoa International Airport>		align=center|

	Port Vila>	Bauerfield International Airport>		align=center|

International scheduled

File:Air Vanuatu Boeing 737-300 SYD Monty-1.jpg|thumb|right|Air Vanuatu Boeing 737-300 at Sydney AirportSydney Airport{{As of|January 2023}}WEB, Air Vanuatu route map,weblink Air Vanuatu, 9 January 2023, 19 April 2021,weblink dead, Air Vanuatu operates to the following international destinations:{|class="sortable wikitable tocccolors"!Country!City!Airport!class="unsortable"|Notes!Ref

		Brisbane Airport>		align=center|Debrief Australian Aviation March 2019 page 12

		Melbourne Airport>		align=center|

		Sydney Airport>		align=center|

		Nadi International Airport>		align=center|

		La Tontouta International Airport>		align=center|

		Auckland Airport>		align=center|

		Santo-Pekoa International Airport>		align=center|

		Bauerfield International Airport>		align=center|

Codeshare agreements

Air Vanuatu has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:WEB,weblink Profile on Air Vanuatu, CAPA, Centre for Aviation, 2016-11-02,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20161102153708weblink">weblink 2016-11-02, live,

• Aircalin
• Air Niugini
• Fiji Airways
• Qantas
• Solomon Airlines

Fleet

{{As of|2022|06}}, the Air Vanuatu fleet consists of the following aircraft:WEB,weblink Air Vanuatu orders four A220s, Taylor, Ellis, 2019-02-26, Flightglobal.com, en-GB, 2019-02-26, {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;"! rowspan="2" | Aircraft! rowspan="2" | In service! rowspan="2" | Orders! colspan="3" | Passengers! rowspan="2" | Notes!J!Y! Total

ATR 72>ATR 72-600|1|1|—|70|70		DATE=2022-06-15	URL=HTTPS://ISLANDSBUSINESS.COM/NEWS-BREAK/AIR-VANUATU-TO-FOCUS-ON-DOMESTIC-FLEET-EXPANSION/	WEBSITE=ISLANDS BUSINESS, en-US,

Boeing 737 Next Generation>Boeing 737-800|1|1|8|162|170|

|Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander|1|—|—|9|9|

de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter>de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter|2|2|—|19|19|

! Total!5!4! colspan=4 |

Incidents and accidents

• 25 July 1991 – a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft crashed on the island of Espiritu Santo, killing all nine passengers and the pilot. The crash site was only located after a four-day search involving several helicopters. The crash was attributed to pilot error.WEB,weblink ASN Aircraft accident Britten-Norman BN-2A-6 Islander YJ-RV4 Olpoi, Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, 17 May 2024,weblink 17 May 2024, live,
• 19 December 2008 – a Britten-Norman Islander aircraft (Flight 261) with nine passengers crashed into a mountain near Olpoi Airport on the western side of the island of Espiritu Santo, killing the pilot and seriously injuring some passengers. The aircraft had been heading to Santo-Pekoa International Airport. The mountainous region where the aircraft crashed was shrouded in thick fog at the time.NEWS, Vanuatu plane crash injured flown to Brisbane,weblink ABC News (Australia), ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 22 December 2008, 22 December 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20121108142116weblink">weblink 8 November 2012, dead, NEWS, Crash: Air Vanuatu BN2P near Olpoi on Dec 19th 2008,weblink The Aviation Herald, Salzburg, 21 December 2008, 21 December 2008,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20200615151807weblink">weblink 15 June 2020, NEWS, Few details on cause of fatal plane crash in Vanuatu,weblink Radio New Zealand, 22 December 2008, 22 December 2008,weblink 17 May 2024, live,
• 28 July 2018, ATR 72 registration YJ-AV71, operating Flight 241, suffered an in-flight engine failure. On landing at Port Vila, the aircraft departed the runway and collided with two parked Britten-Norman Islander aircraft belonging to Unity Airlines and that of another company. Thirteen people sustained minor injuries.NEWS, Fox, Liam, Air Vanuatu crash report highlights lack of emergency training for pilots and crew,weblink 17 May 2024, ABC News (Australia), ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 27 October 2020,weblink 8 February 2023, live,

See also

• Vanair

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{commons category|Air Vanuatu}}

• Air Vanuatu {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419062702weblink |date=2021-04-19 }}
• weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20110317080154weblink">Captain Bani dies saving passengers

{{IATA members|asia}}