Airports Vanuatu Ltd (AVL) wishes to welcome back Virgin Australia to Port Vila Airport. Today marks the reinstatement of services.
Following an absence of nearly three years, Virgin Australia today reinstated services from Brisbane to Port Vila.
AVL is pleased to say “welkam back” to Virgin Australia.
- Virgin Australia first flew to Port Vila Airport on 20 September 2004, and continued to provide over 15 years of air services prior to Covid-19.
- Virgin Australia’s last flight to Port Vila was on 15 April 2020.
- Today marks 1080 days between that last flight and today’s reinstatement of scheduled flights, which is just short of three full years.
- Over those many years of service, 725,000 passengers travelled between Australia and Vanuatu with Virgin Australia, being more than twice the entire population of Vanuatu today.
- Prior to Covid, Virgin Australia was Port Vila Airport’s most significant international carrier, consistently providing the greatest amount of international capacity of any overseas airline.
Jason Rakau, CEO of AVL said, “I sincerely thank the staff, management and Board of Virgin Australia for their commitment to our proud nation of Vanuatu. They were loyal partners for over 15 years before Covid. Now, the return to Vanuatu of their own volition, signifies Virgin Australia’s recognition of the strength of this route, the attraction of our destination to visitors, and the resilience of our nation. Services have been interrupted over the years. Covid, Cyclone Pam and even our recent challenges with Cyclones Judy and Kevin have not deterred Virgin Australia’s commitment, and for that we are extremely grateful. Welkam back, we look forward to continuing our long friendship into the future”.
