Solomon Airlines has launched a second weekly direct service between Brisbane and Luganville (Espiritu Santo), marking a boost to air access for Vanuatu’s northern islands as the country continues to rebuild its visitor economy. The inaugural flight touched down at Santo Pekoa International Airport on April 4, carrying 112 passengers, the airline said.
The additional Brisbane–Espiritu Santo rotation increases capacity on the route to twice weekly and will be operated with an Airbus A320-200. The flight is billed as a roughly 2.5-hour hop from Brisbane and is specifically aimed at improving direct connections to Santo and neighbouring islands, which tourism officials say remain vital to the sector’s recovery.
Adela Issachar Aru, chief executive of Vanuatu Tourism, welcomed the new service as a timely lift for communities in Santo. “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, adding that improved and reliable air access is essential as the country rebuilds following the 2024 earthquake. She said the added capacity would have positive ramifications for other sectors of the economy beyond tourism.
Solomon Airlines’ chief executive Mathew Findlay framed the schedule increase as evidence of rising demand. “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, signalling the carrier’s confidence in market recovery and cross-border leisure travel from Australia.
The move follows a period of disruption for Vanuatu’s tourism industry after the 2024 seismic event, which damaged infrastructure and depressed visitor arrivals in affected areas. For Luganville and surrounding communities, direct international flights reduce the need for additional domestic transfers and can make short-stay tourism from Australia more viable, tourism operators and officials have argued.
Solomon Airlines’ expansion of services to Espiritu Santo will be watched closely by destination stakeholders seeking to convert improved connectivity into higher room occupancy, increased tour bookings and broader economic benefits. The carrier’s twice-weekly use of the A320-200 provides a significant uplift in seat capacity compared with limited charter or indirect options, the airline noted. Source: Karryon.com.au.
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