Air Vanuatu fly's to Espirito Santo from Brisbane

AIR VANUATA BOEING 737-8SH YJ-AV8 (MSN 42052)

Brisbane Airport now offers a nonstop service to Espirito Santo in Vanuatu on the world's only international flight to the island.

Last Thursday (8th) the South Pacific Island of Espiritu Santo was reconnected to Australia's Brisbane Airport by an Air Vanuatu service operated by a Solomon Airlines aircraft. Espiritu Santo is Vanuatu's largest island and the flight from Brisbane is the world's only international flight to the island paradise.

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Alatoi Ishmael Kalasakau, relaunched the service and celebrated by urging Aussies to visit and "experience the wonders of Santo," adding that the islands "have only seen a handful of visitors each year." In a heartfelt message, he said:

"They yearn for the Australian visitor to take advantage of the beauty that is on display when you come to our country. Tourism is a vital pillar in our economy, providing employment and small business opportunities and also generating revenue for our communities. We humbly urge you to come and explore Santo."

The first flight from Brisbane Airport (BNE/YBBN) departed at 10:51, and after a 2-hour 12-minute flight, touched down in Vanuatu at Luganville Santo-Pekoa International Airport (SON/NVSS) at 14:03. The operating aircraft was a Solomons Airlines Airbus A320-232, registration H4-SIB.

SOLOMONS AIRBUS A320-232 H4-SIB (MSN 2445)

The return flight left Santo at 15:22 and landed in Brisbane at 17:39, with the A320 then operating a service to Honiara International Airport (HIR/AGGH) in the Solomon Islands and returning to Brisbane. The Santo flight was operated under an Air Vanuatu flight number NF24 /NF25, whereas the Honiara service was under the banner of Solomon Airlines IE700/IE701.

The Brisbane-Santo flight will operate every Thursday and return on the same day to arrive in BNE at 17:10. Brisbane Airport Corporation CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff also welcomed the routes launch, saying:

"With Brisbane the only international airport with flights to Santo, BNE will be the world's gateway for tourists on their way to this South Pacific paradise. Brisbane is the most connected Australia port to the Southwest Pacific, with direct flights to 13 destinations. We look forward to Queenslanders discovering this little slice of international paradise, which is less than three hours flying time away."