Passenger numbers drop at Vanuatu Airports – AVL

April 13, 2025 9:42 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Compiled by Adorina Massing.

Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) has reported a decline in passenger traffic across its network in February, with total movements down 26% compared to the same month last year.

The downturn is driven by a sharp 49% drop in domestic travel, while international traffic saw a modest 8% increase.

The figures, released in the authority’s February stakeholder update, point to increasing pressures on Vanuatu’s domestic aviation sector. All three major airports—Port Vila, Santo, and Tanna—experienced reductions in traffic, with Tanna seeing the steepest fall at 61%. Port Vila was the most resilient but still saw a 43% drop year-on-year.

Despite the drop, domestic flight load factors averaged 65%, which is considered marginally viable for regional carriers.

On the international front, Port Vila saw a 7% increase in passengers, even after recent disruptions caused by an earthquake and ongoing challenges with Air Vanuatu’s connectivity. However, a 21% rise in seat availability pushed average load factors down to 49%, raising concerns about the sustainability of some routes.

“Load factors below 75% can make routes commercially unviable,” the recent AVL Stakeholder report noted, suggesting that some airlines may reduce capacity or switch to smaller aircraft in response.

Alliance Airlines, which operates charters for Qantas and Virgin, is expected to begin using 97-seat E190s on services to Vanuatu.

While forward schedules appear stable, aviation officials warn that the market remains fragile.

The shift to smaller aircraft, already underway for some carriers, reflects ongoing uncertainty in passenger demand, particularly within the domestic network.