Vanuatu welcomes Jetstar’s inaugural flight from Sydney with over 180 passengers

December 12, 2024 9:56 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) is celebrating a major milestone in the country’s tourism recovery as Jetstar Airlines officially launched its service connecting Sydney to Port Vila.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of VTO, Mrs. Adela Issachar Aru, said the inaugural flight, JQ123, brought over 180 passengers to the tropical paradise. The excitement around this new service is palpable, with the next four Jetstar flights between Sydney and Port Vila already fully booked, signaling strong demand for travel to Vanuatu.

“The VTO is proud to officially celebrate the arrival of Jetstar Airline Service in Vanuatu on 12th of December. The JQ123 flight arrived at 2pm in Port Vila,” she said.

“We celebrated this inaugural flight because it brought over 180 guests. We also note that the next four Jetstar flights on the Sydney–Port Vila route are fully booked, which is very encouraging. We continue to celebrate and acknowledge this milestone.

“We know that tourism is a key driver of Vanuatu’s economy. The tourism industry is recovering, especially with the return of international flights to our markets such as Australia and New Zealand. We also see the New Caledonia market picking up. With the announcement of Jetstar services, we thank the governments of Vanuatu and Australia, as well as Jetstar, a subsidiary of Qantas, for making this service possible.

“We are looking forward to an additional 40,000 seats being introduced again.”

The CEO added that the work of the VTO is to continue promote Vanuatu as a destination for tourist, VTO expect for the New Year 2025, to see more tourist can be able to travel to Vanuatu. With the support of the other airline partners, they can travel around Vanuatu from North to South

“We say thank you for answering the call of Air Vanuatu, we wish Jetstar success as we continue to promote and market Vanuatu since it is important to our economy,” she said.

The CEO of Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL), Jason Rakau, stated that the arrival of Jetstar is a huge boost to seat capacity. With this new service from Jetstar, utilising next-generation aircraft, international seat capacity levels now exceed all-time records previously experienced.

“We therefore expect international passenger numbers to recover to pre-COVID record-breaking levels within the next year,” he said. “I would like to assure Jetstar, as well as all stakeholders present, that we are working very hard with our key partners in tourism and the Government to address the issues surrounding infrastructure facilities. We are doing our best to facilitate this immense growth while also ensuring passenger comfort is prioritised.

“We are working closely with the Government to tackle some of these challenges, and I thank the Government for its continued support of Airports Vanuatu.”

Jetstar representative Joe Fraser expressed gratitude on behalf of Jetstar and Qantas. He added, “For seven days a week, Jetstar and Qantas operate daily flights, and we are privileged and proud to have this opportunity to open the gateway to the beautiful islands of Vanuatu.”

Australia’s High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Max Willis, stated that the launch of Jetstar flights from Sydney to Port Vila, as a new service to Vanuatu, is the result of hard work and opens up opportunities for travellers, businesses, and communities on both sides of the Pacific. He noted Sydney’s role as a gateway to the rest of the world.

“Australians represent more than 60 percent of the tourists coming here. Increasing flight frequency and introducing a new partner from this market—and the markets connected beyond—is a tremendous opportunity to strengthen tourism here and support the industry’s recovery from the challenges of recent years,” he said.

“Air connectivity empowers individuals to explore new opportunities, enhance skills, and advances regional collaboration. It enables trade, supports businesses, attracts investment from neighbouring countries, and is essential for unlocking the economic potential of any nation, including Vanuatu. This is especially true in the Pacific, where vast oceans and remote islands mean communities rely heavily on air connectivity.”

He hopes that Jetstar’s arrival with its new, larger aircraft symbolises a fresh start for Vanuatu’s economy in the new year. With approximately 40,000 new seats per year, Jetstar’s entry into this market and its connection to new destinations in Sydney represent a substantial boost to Vanuatu’s trade and tourism economy, enabling more visitors to experience Vanuatu.