15 February, 2016: Emergency repairs of Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport are set to be completed in April this year with the country’s new Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, making it a top priority and awarding the contract to New Zealand civil contracting company, Fulton Hogan, following an emergency procurement process meeting held on Wednesday last week.
Fulton Hogan is due to sign the contract over the coming days with immediate mobilisation of equipment and experts to follow by 15 March, 2016. The emergency repairs are expected to be completed within 56 days of signing the contract moving towards a 6 April, 2016 completion date.
Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) general manager Linda Kalpoi said the announcement of the contract and impending repairs, which are stated to cost VT139 million (AUD$1,770,428), has been welcomed by VTO.
“Ensuring all airlines are fully satisfied with the standard of the runway giving them the confidence to reinstate their flights is imperative to the success of Vanuatu’s tourism industry,” Ms Kalpoi said.
“We are very happy the new Prime Minister has acknowledged the importance and urgency of this matter and has addressed the issue promptly.”
The repairs will resolve the issues that caused Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia to suspend their flights to Vanuatu’s Bauerfield Airport in mid-January this year.
Air Vanuatu, Fiji Airways, AirCalin and Solomon Airways have continued flights as normal to Port Vila during this time after conducting their own independent assessments which confirmed the safety of the runway.
Following the emergency repairs another assessment of the runway will be conducted and each airline will confirm when they will be beginning flight services again. Virgin Australia is currently taking bookings to Port Vila from 2 April, 2016 with Air New Zealand yet to confirm when it will re-instate its services.
According to the General Manager Operations, Airports Vanuatu Limited, the second phase will be a total upgrade of the runway, apron and terminal with industry consultation for feedback and awareness of the upgrade, beginning in June. Contracting tenders for the next phase will begin in July.
VTO will regularly update the industry, media and stakeholders on progress of the works over the coming months.
Travellers looking for the latest travel advice should visit: http://smartraveller.gov.au/countries/vanuatu
ENDS
For further information contact:
Media enquiries:
Naomi Joyce
Australian PR Account Manager
Vanuatu Tourism Office
T. +61 2 9028 3592
E. naomi.joyce@gtitourism.com.au
Trade enquiries:
Anne Morris
Australian Representative
Vanuatu Tourism Office
T. +61 2 9028 3577 M. +61 402 244 161
E. anne.morris@gtitourism.com.au