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| AIR VANUATU BOEING 737-8SH YJ-AV8 (MSN 42052) |
Air Vanuatu has suspended its services to and from Sydney, Brisbane, and Auckland from today until at least Sunday, with subsequent flights subject to review. The airline is considering voluntary administration, according to a spokesperson who spoke to news media, with Ernst & Young specialists arriving in the country to assist the Vanuatu government with the national carrier. They will conduct an assessment of Air Vanuatu's financial situation.
All international flights up to Sunday the 12th of May have been cancelled, and all future flights beyond this date are under review. Air Vanuatu has committed to providing updates until a final decision is reached. Qantas, which has a codeshare partnership with Air Vanuatu but does not fly to Vanuatu, is assisting affected codeshare customers. Qantas advises customers booked on an Air Vanuatu flight between now and the 31st of May to contact Qantas or their travel agent to explore options, including refunds or flight credits.
The Australian airline will rebook customers who are mid-journey on alternative flights. Concerns about the airline's future arose earlier on Thursday after flight cancellations and reports from the Vanuatu Daily Post that the Air Vanuatu board had been dissolved and an administrator appointed on the 6th of May. This follows last month's report by a former infrastructure and public utilities minister that Air Vanuatu is facing bankruptcy. The airline's website attributes the cancelled flights to extended maintenance requirements and states efforts are being made with partner carriers to manage the impact.
The airline's website lists the cancelled services between Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, and its base in Port Vila. This follows closely on the heels of the Australian airline Bonza's collapse, which occurred a few days ago, less than 18 months after its inaugural flight. It's first aircraft, leased from Flair Canada, departed Maroochydore this morning.
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