Aviation History
Air Vanuatu was founded in 1981 shortly after independence, initially as a joint venture with Australia's Ansett Airlines before becoming wholly government-owned in 1987. It served as the country's principal international gateway for over four decades until a severe financial crisis forced it into liquidation in May 2024, stranding travelers and workers before the government funded a partial resumption of domestic services.
The carrier's first flight, operated by Ansett Airlines under a 40/60 partnership with the Vanuatu government, connects Sydney and Port Vila on 5 September.
After the Ansett partnership lapses, Air Vanuatu is re-established under full Vanuatu government ownership.
The airline grounds its fleet in May, owing creditors roughly US$74 million with only two aircraft airworthy; liquidator EY is appointed and thousands of travelers and workers are left stranded.
Following an emergency government funding injection, Air Vanuatu restarts limited domestic flights in August.
Air Vanuatu
Wikipedia, airline history archives, 2024 news coverage of the liquidation