Air Vanuatu (NF, Port Vila) will resume limited charter operations this week in what its administrators call an "important step toward the full reinstatement of the airline’s domestic services." Administrator Ernst & Young (EY) confirmed the restart in an August 5 statement.
The development comes around three months after the Vanuatu government suspended all flights and put the state-owned carrier into administration.
“The resumption of Air Vanuatu flights is critical for the restructuring of Air Vanuatu,” said EY partner and administrator Morgan Kelly. “Air Vanuatu is focused on recommencing services in a safe and reliable manner. The planned recommencement of scheduled charter flights is another step towards the full resumption of domestic services.”
Following training and verification flights taking place last month, the restart will rely on a single ATR72-600 and a pair of DHC-6-300s. According to EY, the resumption of Air Vanuatu’s domestic operations is critical for the country’s 300,000 citizens spread across more than 60 islands. The administrator adds that no decision has been made about when, or if, international flights will resume.
