Air Vanuatu

[henrus]

Quick update on our flight from Sydney to Port Vila

You were on the Air Vanuatu 737-800?

 

[muehli3]

Yep

 

[Unuuusual]

I'm travelling to Vanuatu over Christmas New Year period on Air Vanuatu. Lots of cancellations and delays at the moment due to only having one 737-800. I've been following some FB groups and one mentioned Air Vanuatu have another plane on order and this should be to them within three months. Does anyone have any information on this?

 

[Harrison_133]

Air Vanuatu’s sole 737-800 is grounded again with engineering issues. It last flew on the 18th. Rather unfortunate timing with school holidays across various states.

Nauru Airlines are again stepping in, although many flights have been cancelled, or in some cases rescheduled for days later.

Solomon Airlines are still operating select services on behalf of Air Vanuatu as planned, although one of their A320s is currently in Hong Kong for maintenance which would limit their ability to cover for the grounded 737.

Virgin’s flights to/from Port Vila are sold out until Sat 30th, so there are few options available for those currently stuck in Vanuatu.

Flight Updates

https://www.news.com.au/travel/trav...ws-story/dbf5264251b5f117121673d94362aa17?amp

 

[Quickstatus]

Can Qantas step in?

 

[MarkD]

Can Qantas step in?

School holidays and crew shortages for them as well. Doubt they could even if they wanted to

 

[DC3]

Is there a reason why Air Vanuatu is the carrier of choice for some? Is it price alone, lack of other carriers, or are there other reasons? Having only 1 x 737 seems a bit risky for reliability.

 

[Quickstatus]

Is it price alone

Travel agent package deal?

 

[henrus]

Can Qantas step in?

Last time this happened VA actually put more flights on.

Is there a reason why Air Vanuatu is the carrier of choice for some? Is it price alone, lack of other carriers, or are there other reasons? Having only 1 x 737 seems a bit risky for reliability.

From SYD/MEL/AKL it's the only option. From Brisbane VA operates a handful of times per week and is typically more expensive.

 

[Harrison_133]

Looks like the Air Vanuatu 737 has now returned to service.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I'm travelling to Vanuatu over Christmas New Year period on Air Vanuatu.

Keen to hear your thoughts on Air Vanuatu and Port Vila @Unuuusual
Looking to travel in September.

 

[QF_Flyer]

Against my better judgement I booked NF to VLI (on a QF code). I've got a PNR and e-ticket number, but these don't work on the NF website - am I supposed to do something different?

For e.g. are they one of these airlines which uses SABRE which results in two PNRs when booked with an Amadeus carrier (like AA booked using QF points, for example)? Although that doesn't explain the e-ticket number not working...

 

[Warragul]

Pretty sure NF are hosted by Amadeus.

 

[pjm99au]

Against my better judgement I booked NF to VLI (on a QF code). I've got a PNR and e-ticket number, but these don't work on the NF website - am I supposed to do something different?

For e.g. are they one of these airlines which uses SABRE which results in two PNRs when booked with an Amadeus carrier (like AA booked using QF points, for example)? Although that doesn't explain the e-ticket number not working...

If you are trying to do seat selections, Air Vanuatu doesn’t do on line seat selection. You can try calling them but it is usually assigned on the day of the flight

 

[QF_Flyer]

If you are trying to do seat selections, Air Vanuatu doesn’t do on line seat selection. You can try calling them but it is usually assigned on the day of the flight

Thanks, yeah I’d wondered that from reading above, so I guess it doesn’t really matter, but I like to be able to see the booking on the operating carrier’s website, makes me nervous.

As an update, I did one thing differently that eventually worked - I typed my surname in all caps - I don’t know if I just finally got lucky and it worked, or if that’s what I have to do, but I’ll try that going forward. At least I can see it on NF’s website.

Another thing I noticed, QF website (under the APIS section) it did say NF required my date of birth be entered manually and confirmed before it could be ticketed (passport, etc. was optional, but I did all that at the same time, was my main reason for providing APIS info in the first place) - I noticed this entirely by chance, so not sure what would have happened if I’d not noticed it.

Post automatically merged: Jan 8, 2024

Pretty sure NF are hosted by Amadeus.

You’re right, I noticed this in the URL after posting when I was trying to get it to work, one of the many redirects contained the word Amadeus, so I guessed as much.

 

[Unuuusual]

Keen to hear your thoughts on Air Vanuatu and Port Vila @Unuuusual
Looking to travel in September.

Hi Flyfrequently. We returned yesterday after 8 days on Efate staying about 20 mins out of Port Vila. Air Vanuatu were good, on time, staff great, food okay, no entertainment, seats well sat on, but we got there and back. I would recommend 'Eat, drink, play, relax in Vanuatu' as a great FB group for lots of relevant info. Vanuatu is an economically challenged country and has had more than it's fair share of natural disasters and you can see that but it is worth visiting. Costs are on a par with Australia particularly in restaurants but there are good supermarkets and local markets for fruit and veg, and some cheaper food options, very good if self catering. We had a hire car for the 8 days we were there but there is a cheap local bus system (10 seater private vans), great if staying closer to Port Vila. The roads are pretty bad, huge pot holes and there are challenges of people and dogs on the roads everywhere. The people are lovely and seem genuinely happy, the snorkeling is good and beaches beautiful. There is a great fire show on at The Beach Bar on a Friday night I would recommend. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything specific you wanted to know.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Hi Flyfrequently. We returned yesterday after 8 days on Efate staying about 20 mins out of Port Vila. Air Vanuatu were good, on time, staff great, food okay, no entertainment, seats well sat on, but we got there and back. I would recommend 'Eat, drink, play, relax in Vanuatu' as a great FB group for lots of relevant info. Vanuatu is an economically challenged country and has had more than it's fair share of natural disasters and you can see that but it is worth visiting. Costs are on a par with Australia particularly in restaurants but there are good supermarkets and local markets for fruit and veg, and some cheaper food options, very good if self catering. We had a hire car for the 8 days we were there but there is a cheap local bus system (10 seater private vans), great if staying closer to Port Vila. The roads are pretty bad, huge pot holes and there are challenges of people and dogs on the roads everywhere. The people are lovely and seem genuinely happy, the snorkeling is good and beaches beautiful. There is a great fire show on at The Beach Bar on a Friday night I would recommend. Please feel free to reach out if there is anything specific you wanted to know.

Great info there @Unuuusual sounds like a beaut trip. Still thinking about it but your thoughts are much appreciated and will check out the Fb group. If I may ask, did you fly Y or J?
Guess my concern with Air Vanuatu is at this stage I believe they only have one aircraft and if something goes awry.....
I am known as the catastrophiser in my family!
(don't mind getting stuck there - more if delayed on outbound)

 

[Unuuusual]

Great info there @Unuuusual sounds like a beaut trip. Still thinking about it but your thoughts are much appreciated and will check out the Fb group. If I may ask, did you fly Y or J?
Guess my concern with Air Vanuatu is at this stage I believe they only have one aircraft and if something goes awry.....
I am known as the catastrophiser in my family!
(don't mind getting stuck there - more if delayed on outbound)

Flew Y, though we did fly J in 2019 with AV, pretty basic but as mentioned the staff are good. I 100% understand your concerns, I felt the same with all the delays and cancellations in September 2023. I believe they are now getting regular maintenance on the one plane? I watched Flight Aware for the 6 weeks prior to our outbound flight, all left pretty much on time. It's a risk but at least it is direct.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Flew Y, though we did fly J in 2019 with AV, pretty basic but as mentioned the staff are good. I 100% understand your concerns, I felt the same with all the delays and cancellations in September 2023. I believe they are now getting regular maintenance on the one plane? I watched Flight Aware for the 6 weeks prior to our outbound flight, all left pretty much on time. It's a risk but at least it is direct.

Thanks!

 

[Harrison_133]

Air Vanuatu is continuing to have problems with its international network. The sole 737-800 has been grounded in Melbourne for over two months, having last flown on January 15th.

Due to maintenance requirements and a lack of parts, it's expected the aircraft will be out of service until at least mid-April.

The schedule is in havoc yet again. Nauru and Solomons are stepping in, but one of the Solomons A320s required additional maintenance checks last week, and Nauru is tied up with Bonza flying, so they're operating on a very adhoc basis.

Source: Air Vanuatu expands aircraft servicing amid global aviation parts shortages - Travel And Tour World