Terminal upgrade to ease overcrowding from increased air traffic
January 28, 2026 10:40 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Anita Roberts.
The arrival and departure lounges at Port Vila International Airport will be upgraded to improve passenger flow and accommodate increased capacity.
Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister of Finance, Johnny Koanapo, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to refurbishing the lounges to prevent passengers from waiting on the tarmac upon arrival and to enhance Vanuatu’s image as a tourism destination.
According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL), Jason Rakau, it is part of a project to renovate the current terminal and address overcrowding caused by increased air traffic.
He said construction work will begin this year once the scoping and design of the new layout are completed and funding is secured.
“Our terminal, built in 1990, was designed to handle the level of traffic at that time. Over the years, passenger numbers have increased, and congestion during flight operations has become evident, thus the need for a larger space to properly process traffic levels,” he said.
“We already have a master plan approved by the Council of Ministers (COM) for a new terminal on the other side of the runway. This new terminal will be designed to take us into the future. While the long-term plan remains in place, immediate adjustments are necessary to address challenges.”
He said the scheduling of international airlines is also a challenge.
“Many airlines arrive at the same time. We tried negotiating with them to spread their schedules, but people must understand that it is not easy. Flights are linked to global connections, which makes adjustments complicated,” he said.
“It’s a daily challenge to ensure no more than three jets arrive at the same time. At present, just two jets are enough to fill the terminal, so we try to limit arrivals. We would have the freedom to open up to more flights if we have a larger terminal.”
CEO Rakau said the master plan project is large in scale and will require time for planning, design, and securing funds, and thus will take years to be realised.
Constructing a new terminal combining domestic and international services and its supporting infrastructure will require a lot of money, he added.
Apart from renovations at Port Vila and Luganville airports, DPM Koanapo said the government will also secure funds for the upgrade of Longana, Lonorore, Whitegrass, and Motalava airports to meet the growing demands of the people.
