The Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO) has extended its warm congratulations to the Government of Vanuatu and Air Vanuatu Operations Limited following the successful arrival of a new Twin Otter aircraft, a milestone expected to significantly strengthen domestic connectivity and tourism across the country’s 83 islands.
The addition of the Twin Otter to the national carrier’s fleet marks a major step forward for domestic aviation, promising more reliable and frequent inter-island services. Renowned for its versatility and ability to operate in challenging conditions, the aircraft directly addresses long-standing connectivity gaps, particularly for outer island communities.
The new aircraft, registered YJ-AV15 and named Vanua Endeavour, represents a strategic investment in the people of Vanuatu, supporting economic growth, infrastructure resilience and equitable access to opportunities nationwide. Improved domestic air services will enhance access to essential services, support cargo transport, and enable stronger links between communities.
Vanuatu Tourism Office Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Adela Issachar Aru, described the arrival as a turning point for the tourism sector.
“For tourism, this is a game-changer,” Mrs Aru said. “Reliable domestic air travel is the backbone of visitor dispersal. This Twin Otter provides the essential capacity to welcome more guests to our iconic destinations and to introduce them to the untouched beauty and authentic cultural experiences of our outer islands. It allows us to truly deliver on the promise of an 83-island adventure.”
Strengthening domestic connectivity is also critical to rebuilding traveller confidence. With a more dependable and expanded fleet, visitors can plan and book multi-island journeys with greater certainty. This reliability supports seamless itineraries, encourages longer stays, and helps spread tourism benefits more evenly across the country, boosting local businesses and provincial economies.
The VTO highlighted that the arrival of the Twin Otter will:
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Empower communities by improving essential travel, access to services and cargo transport for Ni-Vanuatu across the archipelago.
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Diversify tourism by enabling sustainable growth beyond Port Vila and Santo and promoting regional economic development.
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Support industry partners by providing tour operators, travel agents and accommodation providers with predictable flight schedules to build and market attractive travel packages.
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Drive national growth through improved connectivity that directly contributes to Vanuatu’s broader economic and social development goals.
The Vanuatu Tourism Office commended the Government and Air Vanuatu Operations Limited for this forward-looking investment and reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with key partners, including Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL), the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV), and the Department of Tourism.
As Vanuatu looks ahead, the strengthened domestic aviation network signals a future where every island is within reach—supporting a more inclusive, resilient and truly multi-destination tourism industry.
