Domestic air services

 

The national airline, Air Vanuatu, operates domestic flights throughout the islands. The airline's comfortable ATR-72 aircraft connect Port Vila with Santo and Tanna. Beyond these two routes, flights are operated by smaller aircraft with no assigned seating. Airports beyond the three main islands have grass runways and no facilities. Schedules can change (sometimes due to Vanuatu weather). Please allow sufficient time if you're connecting to/from international flights. Note that luggage allowance on the domestic routes may be different from the international routes allowance.

Due to the limited schedules to the outer islands, it's strongly recommended that you book these as far in advance as possible. If flying from Port Vila to northern islands (including the Banks Islands), you'll stop in Santo, and this may be overnight, so be sure to check this when you book. When flying to smaller islands, your flight will typically make multiple stops.

For domestic flights, a provincial departure tax of VT200 is not included in tickets and must be paid prior to departure (after check in) at Port Vila, Efate (VLI); Luganville, Espiritu Santo (SON); Whitegrass, Tanna (TAH); Siwo, Emae (EAE); Tongoa (TGH); Lamen Bay, Epi (LNB); and Valesdir, Epi (VLS). 

To Book your Flights

For more information or How to book flights go to Air Vanuatu's website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Flights between Port Vila, Santo and Tanna are the backbone of island hopping and the regular way to connect those islands. They are still subject to weather and operational changes, so reliable means usual, not guaranteed to the minute. Book early in busy periods. Treat them as essential infrastructure with Pacific flexibility.
Smaller aircraft, grass runways on many outer islands, payload and baggage limits, and schedules that can change with weather are normal. Some northern routes stop in Santo and may need an overnight. Confirm baggage rules when you book; they can differ from your international allowance. Build slack into any day that uses a small plane.
Do not plan a tight same-day connection if you can avoid it, especially arriving from an outer island. Allow extra time, ideally a buffer night in Port Vila, before an international departure. Weather and payload can delay small aircraft even when the jet is on time. If you must connect in one day, take the earliest domestic flight and travel light.