Travellers heading to Vanuatu's biggest island have hit a snag: flights carrying more than 30 passengers into Santo International Airport have been temporarily suspended, including the twice-weekly Brisbane service.
The ban comes from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu, which flagged a shortfall in the airport's rescue and firefighting vehicles — equipment operated by Airports Vanuatu Limited. Until that capability is restored and the Director of Civil Aviation gives written clearance, larger aircraft can't land. Air Vanuatu says no date has been set for the restriction to lift, though the government is reportedly pushing for a fix within the week.
The suspension hits the twice-weekly Brisbane–Santo route (NF304/305), flown by Solomon Airlines on Air Vanuatu's behalf since April this year. That service was only launched to boost tourism to the island, so the timing is a blow to the local visitor economy. Some domestic routes are affected too — Air Vanuatu's Port Vila–Santo ATR 72-600 services (NF300/301, NF302/303 and NF306/307) are off the schedule for now.
There's a silver lining: Air Vanuatu's smaller Twin Otter aircraft are still flying to Santo, and affected domestic passengers can switch to one of those flights (subject to seats) or rebook free of charge once the big planes return. Air Vanuatu CEO Philippe Busson said the airline opted to suspend routes upfront rather than cancel week by week, so travellers can plan with some certainty.
Crucially, the Vanuatu Tourism Office has confirmed the island itself remains open for business — hotels, tours and dive operations are running as normal. The problem is purely about aircraft size at the airport, not anything on the ground in Santo.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs is advising travellers to reconfirm flights with their airline or agent, and to contact their insurer if plans are disrupted. If you've booked Brisbane–Santo in the coming weeks, that's the sensible first step: check your status, look at Twin Otter connections via Port Vila, and build in some flexibility.
For anyone set on Santo's world-class diving, blue holes and beaches, it's worth the minor detour — you can still reach the island via Port Vila on a smaller aircraft, and the upside of a quieter airport is a softer landing for your itinerary. Just don't book connecting flights with tight margins until the suspension is officially cleared.
