Vanuatu Airport

Efate outbound travel ban lifted

The clearance to travel is effective from today after the Ministry of Health completed its risk assessment to Covid-19 community transmission related to a Filipino national.

Director National Disaster Management Office, Abraham Nasak said the primary contacts results were all negative and so there is no threat or chance of them transmitting the Covid-19 virus.

“Therefore people outbound travel by sea and air from Efate and its offshore islands can begin travel from Thursday, 22 April 2021.”

Vanuatu losing $1m a week over airport saga

RNZ reports in January, Air New Zealand withdrew its services to Port Vila and Qantas pulled out of a codeshare arrangement over concerns about the safety of the runway there.

The government sought a World Bank loan, and short-term repairs were carried out in May, which were designed to last 12 months while a longer term solution was sought.

But last week work had to be carried out again after staff spotted a gap opening up in part of the runway.

Airport chief says emergency repairs didnt last

Back in January Air New Zealand and Qantas withdrew their services to Port Vila citing concerns over the safety of the runway.

The World Bank loaned Vanuatu a 60 million US dollars for an overhaul of the industry.

The Bank sent a technical team to look at the short term repair of the runway and designs for longer term rehabilitation.

Fulton Hogan was contracted to conduct emergency repairs for the short term rehabilitation.

This week minor work was carried out again after staff spotted a gap opening up in part of the runway.