Hundreds of Australian travellers are stuck in Vanuatu after the country’s national carrier cancelled at least 26 flights between Port Vila and Australia and New Zealand.
With Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland flights either axed or rescheduled since last Friday, Air Vanuatu says services should recommence “by the end of this week”.
“We deeply regret to inform you that, despite our best efforts, we are faced with extended delays in returning to our regular international flight schedule,” Air Vanuatu said on social media on Sunday.
“The completion of necessary work has encountered unexpected challenges, making it impossible for us to provide an exact timeframe for resuming our regular schedules.
“At this stage, we anticipate the possible resumption of international flights by the end of this week.”
In the meantime, the airline says it has “engaged Nauru Airlines to operate a number of limited services between Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland and Nadi to and from Port Vila”.
“Our teams have been working on re-routing guests via Nadi, Honiara and Brisbane,” it added.
“We ask guests on cancelled Air Vanuatu services to not present themselves at the airport for check-in.”
For updates, affected passengers should check the airline’s website here.
“If you no longer wish to travel, you have refund options available. If your booking was made through a travel agent, kindly reach out to your travel agent to initiate a refund with us,” the carrier stated.
“For those who booked directly with Air Vanuatu, please email our team on customercare@airvanuatu.vu to assist with processing your refund.
“We appreciate the significance of your travel plans and are committed to providing you with the best possible assistance during this situation.”
“No information”
Passenger Eva Wiland told the Today program she was meant to fly out at 7am on Sunday, but the flight was cancelled the day before.
“We were told not to go to the airport. Not to try to get another flight at the airport because its closed,” she said. “We have no information.”
Some travellers could be forced to stay as long as seven extra nights in Vanuatu as a result of the delays, with some Sydney-bound passengers due to fly out on Monday, for instance, rebooked on a flight one week later on 2 October.
Meanwhile, Melbourne passengers due to depart on 24 September have to wait five days before they can return on 29 September.
Read our interview with Air Vanuatu chief commercial manager, Greg Wilson, who said the carrier was considering increasing capacity between Australia’s two largest cities and Port Vila.
Earlier this month, Karryon attended Vanuatu’s main tourism event, TOK TOK, in Port Vila. In an exclusive interview, Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) CEO Adela Issachar Aru called Vanuatu an “adventure” hotspot, and “definitely not just a sun and sea destination anymore”.
Here are eight things we learned at the event.
