Port Vila Airport Reopens After 7.3 Magnitude Earthquak
Port Vila Airport resumed commercial operations on December 22, 2024, following a powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck on December 17. The reopening saw scheduled flights from Fiji Airways, Virgin Australia, Qantas, and Air Vanuatu.
Flight tracking data revealed that Fiji Airways operated two flights from Nadi, while Virgin Australia flew in from Brisbane International. Qantas also serviced the airport with a scheduled flight from Sydney Kingsford Smith, and Air Vanuatu ran two services to Espiritu Santo and one to Tanna.
The earthquake and subsequent aftershocks caused widespread damage, including at the airport, and resulted in at least 12 fatalities. Before the resumption of commercial flights, the Royal Australian Air Force conducted six evacuation flights using Globemaster III and C-130J Hercules aircraft.
Despite concerns, the airport confirmed that its runway infrastructure was not severely damaged, and there was no contamination of aviation fuel. The company issued a statement on Facebook, assuring the public that certified engineers had thoroughly inspected the airport’s infrastructure and deemed it safe for operations.
In addition to the four main carriers, Port Vila Airport is served by Jetstar Airways, Air Calédonie, Aircalin, Air Niugini, and Solomons – Solomon Airlines, offering connectivity to 14 airports across seven countries.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com