2 March, 2016:

• New Zealand civil contracting company, Fulton Hogan are commencing repairs of Vanuatu’s Bauerfield International Airport this week with works contracted to be completed by 6 April.

• Air Vanuatu, Fiji Airways, Solomon Airways and Aircalin are continuing their scheduled international flights operating in and out of the airport and remain satisfied, after each completing independent assessments, that the condition of the runway is safe to continue jet operations.

• Virgin Australia has suspended services until 30 April and is currently taking bookings to Port Vila from 2 May, 2016. Qantas is yet to advise the date of its code-share reinstatement with Air Vanuatu and Air Vanuatu is conducting continuous briefings with Qantas.

• Effective 24 March, Air Vanuatu will add an additional Sydney to Port Vila service to cater for demand over the Easter period. The return flight will operate each Thursday, increasing the existing route to a total of ten flights departing Australia per week.

• Air Vanuatu are working closely with The Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV) and Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) to ensure the issues facing the airport are addressed daily to ensure the safety of all passengers, aircraft and crew until permanent repair of the aerodrome can begin.

• Several temporary measures including daily mechanical sweeping of the runway are in place and regularly monitored. Runway sweeping involves dragging cleaning mats over the surface to trap and remove any foreign object debris from the runway.

• These are being closely monitored to ensure they adhere to the high safety standards of Air Vanuatu, their highly trained pilots and associated parties.

ENDS

For further information contact:
Anne Morris
Australian Representative
Vanuatu Tourism Office
T. +61 2 9028 3577 M. +61 402 244 161
E. anne.morris@gtitourism.com.au