Airbus A220 visits Vanuatu

In partnership with Airbus, Air Vanuatu is pleased to showcase the first visit by an Airbus A220 to Vanuatu, on Monday, 28 October 2019.

Vanuatu will be the first stop on an extensive tour of the South Pacific which will see Airbus highlight the A220’s performance across the region. The aircraft, a new Airbus A220-300, will be in the colours of A220 launch customer airBaltic.

Air Vanuatu is the launch customer in the South Pacific region for the A220, the most advanced airliner in its class, featuring new manufacturing technologies, reduced fuel consumption and carbon emissions, lower operating costs and a more attractive passenger cabin.

“We are grateful to Airbus and our good friends at air Baltic for organizing this visit,” says Derek Nice, Air Vanuatu CEO. 

This is an opportunity for us to showcase this new state-of-the-art aircraft to our employees, shareholders and loyal customers with a close-up view of the aircraft’s exceptional features, comfort, and performance.”

Last month air Baltic CEO Martin Gauss visited Port Vila to meet Air Vanuatu’s employees and to provide an overview of the Airbus A220, explaining how it has been instrumental to airBaltic’s success. At that time, Mr. Gauss expressed his excitement to be bringing one of his aircraft to Vanuatu.

“The aircraft will operate a demonstration flight from Port-Vila to Espiritu-Santo, with a fly over of Tanna on Monday 28 October 2019” says Mr. Nice.

Bakoa Kaltongga, Chairman of the Air Transportation & Tourism Taskforce (AT3) Committee expressed his enthusiasm for the visit too. “This is another concrete testimony that the Shared Vision 2030 is on a roll. Earlier this year, we met with Airbus in Australia and France to discuss the way forward for Air Vanuatu to acquire the new generation aircraft and we will continue the discussion with both the Government and the manufacturer until we receive the first of four Airbus A220 in June 2020" 

The A220 is the only modern airliner purpose built for the 100-150 seat market, and it delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency. The A220 brings together superior aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer lower noise levels, lower emissions and at least 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.

"The Vanuatu Tourism Office congratulates Air Vanuatu and Airbus on this wonderful first visit to Vanuatu by an A220 aircraft,” says Adela Issachar Aru, CEO. “We are even more excited now about the delivery of Air Vanuatu's new A220s next year. These aircraft will make answering the call of Vanuatu easier and more comfortable for our holiday travelers"

"Our team are excited and also looking forward to receiving the Airbus A220,”. says CEO Jason Rakau, Airports Vanuatu Ltd. “Our upgraded airport facilities in both Bauerfield and Pekoa are fully equipped and ready.”   Airbus will host a private tour of the aircraft for the employees of Air Vanuatu, Airports Vanuatu and the Vanuatu Tourism Office on Sunday, 27 October 2019 at Bauerfield Airport.

 

Photo supplied