A second weekly direct Solomon Airlines flight between Brisbane and Espiritu Santo is now operating, giving Australians more options to book Vanuatu’s largest island. The added service launched on Saturday 4 April, when 112 passengers arrived on the inaugural second weekly flight into Santo Pekoa International Airport in Luganville.
The expanded schedule doubles air capacity on the Brisbane-Santo route and gives travellers more flexibility to plan either a full-week holiday or a shorter island break. At around 2.5 hours from Brisbane, Santo is already a relatively easy Pacific option for Australians, and the added service expands capacity on what Vanuatu Tourism Office says remains the only direct international route from Australia to Espiritu Santo.
A bigger opening for Santo
Vanuatu Tourism Office CEO Adela Issachar Aru said the extra service would have flow-on effects beyond the airport.
“The launch of a second weekly direct service from Brisbane to Espiritu Santo is very welcome news for Vanuatu’s tourism industry, particularly for our partners and communities in Santo,” Aru said.
She said the added flight came at a time when reliable access remained central to the country’s tourism recovery.
“Improved and reliable air access is essential as we continue to rebuild and grow our visitor economy, and this additional service is an important step forward for our northern islands,” she said.
More choice, more Santo
Aru said the expanded schedule would give Australians greater flexibility when planning their holidays.
She also used the announcement to spotlight Santo’s appeal, pointing to the island’s “blue holes, world renowned dive sites and white sand beaches”, along with its rich kastom, or traditional culture, and relaxed island lifestyle.
The route now has more room to move
Solomon Airlines CEO Matthew Findlay said the second weekly service reflected stronger demand for the destination.
“The commencement of this second weekly service to Espiritu Santo is a strong vote of confidence in the destination and reflects the growing demand we are seeing for Santo,” Findlay said.
He also linked the added flight to broader work between the airline, Vanuatu Tourism Office, Air Vanuatu, government and local tourism stakeholders.
“Solomon Airlines is proud to be deepening our collaboration through joint marketing and operational alignment and we remain committed to working closely with our partners to support sustainable growth, improved connectivity and long-term outcomes for Santo and the wider Vanuatu market,” he said.
What travellers need to know
Solomon Airlines will operate the route twice weekly using an A320-200 aircraft, with 12 business class seats and 132 to 138 economy seats. Services will run on Thursdays and Saturdays from April to June 2026, before shifting to Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 2026 to January 2027.
The published schedule lists IE726 departing Brisbane at 8:55am and arriving in Espiritu Santo at 12:45pm local time. The return service, IE727, departs Santo at 1:45pm and arrives in Brisbane at 3:35pm.
