Qantas and Jetstar will operate up to nine weekly return services between Australia and Vanuatu, starting on 10 September 2024 with QF thrice weekly Brisbane-Port Vila direct flights plus the ability to increase to five flights per week based on demand.
In addition, JQ will commence up to four weekly flights between Sydney and Port Vila from 12 December.
The new QF and JQ services are now on sale and will increase capacity between Australia and Vanuatu by more than 150,000 seats each year.
QF will operate the new Vanuatu services on its Boeing 737 fleet while JQ will use Airbus A321neo LR aircraft.
The news comes as the Qantas Group airlines received conditional International Air Services Commission (IASC) approval to offer Vanuatu flights last week after Air Vanuatu’s shock collapse.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the new routes would help meet the continued demand for travel between the two nations.
“We’re thrilled to offer our customers direct flights between Brisbane and Vanuatu and build on this important route, which will maintain essential connectivity for leisure and business travel,” he said.
“We’ve long served Vanuatu through our codeshare partnership and this new route ensures our customers have more choice and consistent service to the island destination we know they enjoy.”
Jetstar Group CEO Stephanie Tully said Vanuatu is a new international destination for the airline.
“Ahead of the arrival of our 13th A321neo LR next month and more new aircraft on the way, we’re continuing to grow our international network between Sydney and Port Vila,” she said.
