History

Air Vanuatu is the colourful flag carrier of the romantic South Pacific paradise of Vanuatu, often described as the happiest place on earth. In 1981 the newly independent country established the airline with the vital assistance of Australia’s Ansett Airlines who owned 40% and provided the aircraft. In 1986 Ansett withdrew from the partnership and the government took 100% ownership of the company and joined forces with Australian Airlines, which itself merged with Qantas in 1992. Air Vanuatu continues to rely on Qantas for maintenance and marketing services. Air Vanuatu has grown in tandem with the country’s tourism industry and the airline has carefully expanded with a mixed fleet. The backbone of the airline is its sole Boeing 737-800 which is possibly the busiest jet in the Pacific often flying between Vanuatu, Australia and New Zealand several times in one day. In 2001 Vanuatu’s domestic airline, Airvan was merged with Air Vanuatu only to be seperated five months later.

On-Board Service

Air Vanuatu provides the friendliest service imaginable. Crew are dressed it colourful tropical uniforms and have a relaxed cheerful mood, even in bad weather. As a leisure destination flight attendants and pilots are also great ambassadors for their island nation and the holiday experience can really be said to begin the moment passengers step aboard. Crew are helpful, polite and speak English and French as well as several dialects from their country. The country’s main language is Bislama a type of Creole mixture.

Network

Naturally the airline’s network is modest and primarily aimed at linking Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, to tourist markets. The airline has regular services to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland which are served by the 737 and the twin prop ATR72 flies the international route to Nouméa. The airline also has a comprehensive network within the country flying to 28 domestic airports. Without fuss or added expense the airline can and does add a Santo stop on international routes for group bookings. Vanuatu is trying to develop Santo as an international destination in its own right, without immediate success.

Price

Air Vanuatu is a mid priced airline. Fuel is expensive, especially on remote island airports and bookings suffer from extreme highs and lows associated with school holidays in Australia and New Zealand. However the Vanuatu experience is worth it and there is no better airline to fly to Vanuatu.

Catering

Considering most international flights are between three and four hours Air Vanuatu provides a very good meal service in both classes. The airline offers an international cuisine usually without any local products. Even the islands favorite beer, Tusker, is missing from their menu, however servings are generous, meals are free and alcohol keeps flowing throughout the flight.

Entertainment

Air Vanuatu has only one jet and it has an older fashioned single screen and drop down video monitors. The airline plays current Hollywood movies and there are six audio channels. The airlines magazine ‘Island Spirit’ is an English/French publication with a few interesting articles to excite you about your visit.

Ground Service and baggage

Air Vanuatu check in is informal and typically fast, everywhere. Outside Vanuatu the airline uses third party contractors but Air Vanuatu’s experienced mangers will know and reward frequent passengers upon sighting. The airlines ticketed baggage allowances are standard however the airline turns a blind eye and allows far more on board. Clearly the airline does not want anything at check in to spoil a Vanuatu holiday.

Premium Classes & Lounges

Air Vanuatu has Business Class on its Boeing 737 services however the airline does not have any lounges of its own. In Australia and New Zealand they use the Qantas Club. Business Class is modest. It is a larger seat, French champagne and more sumptuous meals. Crew are so friendly its hard to see how they could be ‘more’ friendly for Business Class! However Business Class is a nice way for honeymooners to arrive.

Economy Class

An Economy flight on Air Vanuatu is an enjoyable way to reach the island home. Seats are standard, entertainment is regular and service is very good and unmistakably Melanesian. Window seats offer wonderful views of the hundreds of tropical islands the route flies over to reach Port Vila. Air Vanuatu is not penny pinching the way its main competitor, Virgin Australia is.

Frequent Flyer Programme

Air Vanuatu does not have its own loyalty programme but uses Qantas’s which is quite a comprehensive scheme. As such Air Vanuatu flights can earn points which can be used to redeem any OneWorld airline.

Corporate Culture

Air Vanuatu is definitely a very nice airline and if their Board of Directors really knew how unethical and nasty their Qantas ‘friends’ they would probably look for the door. Air Vanuatu is one of the most important investments the small country has made and its economic contribution is genuinely vital. The Government has a very hands on approach to the airline and the airline plays a community service role, quite alien to the likes of Qantas and other cut throat airlines. The airline in may ways is very well run, but also there is a culture of ‘job for the boys’ in the airline, and pretty much throughout the Pacific.

Safety

Air Vanuatu was extremely unlucky with the new Boeing 737 in 1999. It was visiting Sydney Airport the day they had their worst ever hail storm the plane was left a dented wreck which almost needed to be written off. That aircraft has now been replaced. The airline also suffered a fatal accident in 2008 when a turbo prop flew into a mountain in poor weather. Other than weather related incidents the airline’s safety record is excellent.

Air Vanuatu - Rating

A sincerely friendly airline that begins the Melanesian holiday experience the moment passengers step on board.

www.airvanuatu.com