Solomon Airlines has expanded its partnership with Air Vanuatu with an ACMI agreement as a next step towards expanding their routes and frequencies. As a part of the newly penned agreement, Solomon Airlines will commence a third frequency between Port Vila and Auckland for Air Vanuatu. The service will depart Port Vila to Auckland on Mondays with return services from Auckland to Port Vila operating on Tuesdays, further complementing Air Vanuatu’s existing Wednesday and Saturday services, from June 5, 2023.
Air Vanuatu will also restart direct flights between Brisbane and Santo, in Vanuatu, on Thursdays, with the new route also operated by Solomon Airlines
Joseph Laloyer, CEO, Air Vanuatu said: “The new international services would swiftly bring benefits for both nations, highlighting Vanuatu’s Tourism industry recovery and development as the country recovers from the trauma of recent events.
The new schedule also enables easy travel from Honiara to Auckland via Port Vila, effectively re-engaging Solomon Airlines re-entry to New Zealand via the Auckland gateway, with aims for the route to soon be a codeshare operation.
“Already the addition of Solomon Airlines Twin Otter and crew to support our domestic network is working well, and we are now extending our partnership to international operations,” CEO, Solomon Airlines, Gus Kraus, said. “There is a strong synergy between Solomon Airlines and Air Vanuatu that extends from fleet, to operations, to distribution systems. This new agreement paves the way for us to help each other, whilst still maintaining the independence of each country’s national carriers.”
The new flights will be available for sale through both carrier’s distribution channels from May 2023, subject to regulatory approval.