Private air charter operators under heavy pressure to meet huge demand for domestic flights

July 19, 2024 10:49 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The shortage of domestic flights is putting a huge pressure on the few planes that are currently serving the full country.

Unity Airlines and Belair Airline are now the only air transportation options available to meet the increased demand in Vanuatu as Air Taxi’s operations are on hold.

However, it was reported also that Belair Airline is allegedly temporarily out of service due to a broken engine, further limiting available transport options. This has yet to be confirmed by Belair Airways.

Unity Airlines, currently operating on a charter basis prioritising medical evacuations, faces challenges in accommodating full demand, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We cannot cope with the full demand we just do Charters on a First come First served Bases, Putting Medical evacuations as the priority, Belair are also out of Action with a broken engine,” Unity Airline informed the Vanuatu Daily Post.

In response to safety worries after the Air Taxi incident, Unity Airlines has put their Chief Pilot and crew in charge of making operational decisions.

They undergo thorough training and evaluation every six months, overseen by an experienced examiner from Papua New Guinea (PNG) with more than 11,000 hours of flying experience.

“We contract our Maintenance out to outside organisations like Air Vanuatu Part 145 or Regional Aero Marine Part 43 so we get the most experienced Engineers about.

“We also bring in expert and experienced engineers for NZ, Australia and the USA if specialty services are required. So there is no conflict of Interest with regards to signing of work done on our aircraft,” Unity Airlines told Vanuatu Daily Post.

Unity Airlines advises the public to prioritise safety and reliability when choosing air travel options.

They emphasise the importance of following regulatory guidelines and relying on experienced professionals for maintenance and operational decisions.

As Unity Airlines continues to navigate these challenges, ensuring operational integrity and passenger safety remains their top priority.

They are committed to collaborating with industry experts to enhance service reliability amidst increased demand and operational constraints.