Vanuatu Plans Air Vanuatu Revival, Seeks New Board Members

The Vanuatu government has announced plans to revive Air Vanuatu from the ground up and is actively seeking applicants for a new board of directors to oversee the airline’s restructuring and future management, according to local media outlet the Daily Post.

“Once we have a new board of directors, they will oversee the full restructure and future management of the airline,” a government spokesperson confirmed.

Air Vanuatu, the state-owned national carrier, was placed into liquidation in 2024 after years of financial losses and mounting debt. The government later used a Foreign Ministry-owned shelf company, AV3, to acquire the airline and retain it under state control.

Following a temporary suspension of services, Air Vanuatu has resumed limited domestic flights but has yet to restart any international operations. The government is relying on a potential financial boost from Airbus to help fund the airline’s revival.

Officials are hoping Airbus will refund a deposit paid for a now-cancelled A220 order. However, Airbus has indicated that the deposit is non-refundable. Despite this, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Johnny Koanapo is expected to travel to France this month in an attempt to negotiate a refund directly with Airbus.

Air Vanuatu previously operated a small fleet serving domestic and international destinations, but its long-term viability now hinges on restructuring efforts and financial support. The appointment of a new board marks a key step in the government’s push to rebuild the airline and restore connectivity for the island nation.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com