Solomon Airlines said it will target Australia and New Zealand routes to Vanuatu beginning in October, responding to rising tourism demand.
The national carrier announced the shift in focus as Vanuatu’s aviation sector recovers from last year’s earthquakes, which disrupted flights, airport operations and the tourism industry. “We are designing operations to best meet customer demand, especially for tourism development,” Solomon Airlines Commercial Manager John Wopereis said.
Under the revised schedule, Solomon Airlines will reinstate a Brisbane–Espiritu Santo–Brisbane service on Thursdays in both directions.
Context and regional developments
– Several carriers and arrangements are already expanding or returning services to Vanuatu as part of the broader recovery. An Embraer E190 route from Brisbane to Port Vila launched on March 30 with three weekly flights, adding significant seat capacity between Australia and Vanuatu.
– Australia’s Alliance Airlines received a Foreign Air Operator Certificate to serve Vanuatu and began operations with smaller Embraer aircraft, offering alternative capacity on key routes.
– Air Vanuatu has been moving to restore full international services after disruptions and is reported to be in renewed talks to acquire aircraft (previously involving Airbus A220 plans) to rebuild its international network.
– Fiji Airways also resumed scheduled flights to Vanuatu following the earthquake recovery phase.
Why this matters
– Increased services from Australian and New Zealand markets are crucial: Australia supplies a large share of visitors to Vanuatu, so more seat capacity can accelerate tourism recovery, boost trade in sectors like hospitality and agriculture, and support local jobs.
– Multiple carriers restoring or expanding routes improves resilience and choice for travelers, but also calls for coordination on schedules, ground handling and marketing to maximize load factors and economic benefits.
Additional comments and suggestions
– Coordinated scheduling and joint marketing among carriers, tourism authorities and local operators could help fill seats faster and rebuild confidence among international travelers.
– Authorities and airports should focus on ensuring runway, terminal and ground-service readiness in destination islands like Espiritu Santo and Port Vila to handle the renewed traffic.
– Promoting packaged travel deals (flights plus accommodation/activities) in key source markets—especially Australia—can help convert growing connectivity into visitor numbers more quickly.
Brief summary
Solomon Airlines will concentrate on Australia–New Zealand to Vanuatu services from October and will reintroduce a weekly Brisbane–Espiritu Santo return flight on Thursdays. This move comes as multiple carriers and policy actions are restoring and expanding air links to Vanuatu following earthquake disruptions, supporting the nation’s tourism and economic recovery.
Hopeful outlook
The combined return and expansion of services by Solomon Airlines and other operators points to strengthening regional connectivity and a brighter tourism season ahead for Vanuatu, offering renewed opportunities for local businesses and communities dependent on visitor arrivals.
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