People travel between Vanuatu’s islands by a combination of domestic aircraft, ferries, cargo-passenger vessels and other authorised boat services. The country has around 83 islands, with more than 60 inhabited, and it is impossible to connect them all with ordinary roads. Port Vila on Efate, Luganville on Espiritu Santo and other regional gateways help connect the network. The precise service available depends on the island, operator, weather and current timetable.
Why does island transport matter so much? It moves more than tourists. A student may need to reach a school, a clinic needs medical supplies, a farmer needs a market and a family needs a dependable way to visit relatives. Shipping routes also have costs that rise sharply when passenger or cargo numbers are small. This guide explains which modes do which jobs, why certain routes need government support, what wharves and airports actually provide and how disasters can interrupt an entire community’s connections.
Vanuatu island transport at a glance
Geography: scattered islands in the South Pacific. Major transport modes: domestic flights, scheduled or irregular inter-island shipping, freight vessels, local boats and roads within islands. Capital gateway: Port Vila on Efate. Important northern centre: Luganville on Espiritu Santo. Critical facilities: airports, airstrips, wharves, jetties, ports, fuel supply and communications.
Regulators: aviation and maritime bodies under Vanuatu’s laws. Core risk: weather, sea conditions, technical failures and limited redundancy on remote routes. Economic challenge: some destinations have too few paying passengers and shipments to sustain frequent unsubsidised service. Best advice for current travel: verify routes, fares, safety and changes directly with authorised operators and government advisories.
Why can’t Vanuatu build roads between all its islands?
The islands are separated by seawater, and many have steep terrain, reefs or difficult coastal access. A road can connect villages within an island, but it cannot take an ordinary bus across an ocean channel. Long bridges or tunnels between distant islands would be prohibitively complex in many locations and would not necessarily be the best use of scarce infrastructure funds.
An island transport system therefore needs a hierarchy: local paths and roads lead to a pier or airstrip; the boat or aircraft makes the water crossing; and local transport carries people to their destination after arrival. A single missing step can make the entire journey unusable. This is the island version of the road-network logic explained in How Singapore Connects | Roads, Expressways and Junctions.
What is the difference between a ferry and a cargo vessel?
A ferry is commonly associated with moving passengers and, depending on its design, vehicles or goods on a route. A cargo vessel is primarily arranged for freight, but some approved services carry both goods and passengers under relevant rules. Smaller local boats can provide further connections, with different safety and capacity limitations.
A passenger needs a safe boarding process and an appropriate seat or space. A business may need handling equipment, cargo security and a way to prevent perishable goods from spoiling. The same wharf can serve different vessel types, but one route’s schedule is not automatically suitable for every purpose. Vessel permissions and safety requirements matter more than the informal label used for the boat.
How do domestic flights work in Vanuatu?
Domestic flights connect selected islands and help people reach distant destinations relatively quickly. Some routes use larger aircraft and major airports, while smaller aircraft and airstrips are necessary for communities with lower demand or restricted runway capacity. Airline schedules depend on fleet availability, weather, maintenance and the operational suitability of each airfield.
A flight can be short yet difficult to operate reliably when alternative aircraft or routes are limited. Travellers need to confirm current departure times, baggage rules and booking status with the operator. The Vanuatu Tourism Office’s domestic air-services overview explains why some outer-island routes use smaller aircraft and can require stops or overnight connections.
Why can a domestic flight be delayed by weather?
Small aircraft may be more sensitive to visibility, winds, rain and runway conditions than travellers expect from a large international-airport experience. Tropical weather changes quickly, and some island airstrips have limited facilities. Pilots, operators and aviation authorities must follow safety requirements rather than fly just to maintain a timetable.
For someone with an onward international flight, a missed connection can be expensive. The practical lesson is to allow a suitable buffer instead of assuming a small domestic flight will arrive to the minute. This educational article cannot guarantee that a flight listed today will operate tomorrow. Booking and safety decisions require current airline information and applicable advisories.
What happened to Air Vanuatu’s domestic service?
Air Vanuatu faced serious financial and operational disruption in 2024 and later entered a restructuring or relaunch process for domestic services. In March 2025, Vanuatu’s government described the importance of restoring reliable domestic connectivity through the successor arrangements. That history matters because a familiar airline name does not prove a previously advertised route is still operating under the same conditions.
On 21 January 2026, the Prime Minister’s Office announced the arrival of a Twin Otter aircraft purchased as part of efforts to restore domestic service. Twin Otter aircraft are suited to certain short or challenging airstrips, although capacity and payload limits still apply. The official January 2026 release documents the acquisition; passengers should use current airline schedules rather than an old press statement for flights.
Why is a Twin Otter useful for island aviation?
A Twin Otter is a relatively small twin-engine aircraft type designed for versatile operations, including some short airfields under suitable conditions. In an archipelago, this may help operators reach places that cannot handle larger commercial aircraft. The benefit is access, not unlimited baggage space or uninterrupted daily service.
Aircraft selection involves passenger demand, runway suitability, weather, maintenance availability, spare parts, fuel and trained crew. A plane that fits a remote runway can still be grounded if a critical component is unavailable. Fleet planning therefore needs reliability and maintenance systems, not simply a purchase announcement.
How do Port Vila and Luganville connect the network?
Port Vila is Vanuatu’s capital and a major centre for government, international travel, trade and domestic transport. Luganville, on Espiritu Santo, is another significant economic and logistical centre serving northern regions and local communities. Some routes use these centres as intermediate connections to smaller islands.
A hub can reduce the number of direct routes that must be operated, but it can also make a traveller dependent on two separate schedules. If the first flight or boat is delayed, the second connection may be missed. A resilient hub needs clear information, baggage or cargo handling, backup arrangements and reliable onward services.
Why are inter-island shipping services so important?
Ships can carry loads that would be costly or impractical by small aircraft, including building materials, household goods, agricultural produce and fuel under the relevant safety rules. Sea transport also allows passengers and goods to reach communities that have limited aviation service.
The Asian Development Bank describes maritime transport as essential because Vanuatu’s population is spread over more than 60 populated islands. Its Interisland Shipping Support Project was designed to improve safety, wharf infrastructure and access to services and markets. Shipping is therefore an economic and public-service system, not just a tourism activity.
Why don’t all islands have daily boats?
Operating a vessel involves crew wages, fuel, maintenance, insurance, safety compliance, port charges and the opportunity cost of the vessel’s time. A remote route may have relatively few passengers or shipments in a given week. Ticket and freight revenue may not cover the cost of frequent sailings, even when the service is socially very important.
This is an example of a market-access problem: a commercially weak route can still have large public benefits by allowing people to reach healthcare, schools and markets. One way to address it is carefully designed public support for specified service levels. Without a reliable sailing, farmers may hesitate to produce goods for sale, which in turn keeps demand for shipping low.
What is a shipping subsidy?
A shipping subsidy is financial support intended to make an otherwise unviable but valuable route possible or more frequent under defined conditions. In Vanuatu, the Interisland Shipping Support Project used performance-linked support for private operators serving remote destinations. The subsidy arrangement specified routes, voyages or other service obligations rather than simply giving companies unrestricted money.
The economic logic is that a reliable connection can stimulate market participation and social access. Farmers might prepare crops for sale once they can expect a vessel. A clinic may order supplies more confidently. However, subsidy design needs transparent contracts, proper monitoring and real evidence that the service is being delivered. The ADB’s project narrative explains the approach.
Did Vanuatu establish supported shipping routes?
Yes. The ADB project information records five routes under the shipping support scheme and more than 190 voyages by 2024, with differences in route implementation and some contract changes. This is a historical programme result, not a current timetable guaranteeing all five routes still operate unchanged in October 2026.
The project demonstrates how service support and infrastructure upgrades can reinforce one another. A wharf without vessels provides limited access; vessels without a safe landing facility face different risks. The two must be planned together. The project status report identifies the reported routes and implementation dates so that readers can distinguish achieved works from proposed activities.
What is a wharf, and why does it matter?
A wharf is a structure where vessels can berth or come alongside for loading and unloading. Suitable facilities can improve passenger safety, cargo handling and the predictability of shipping services. A wharf may include mooring equipment, access routes, waiting areas and other features, depending on its scale and intended vessels.
Without a suitable berth, supplies may need to be transferred between a ship and smaller boats, increasing handling time and risk. Bad weather makes such transfers particularly difficult. A wharf is therefore not simply concrete beside the sea—it is a connection between land transport and a maritime network. Engineering, maintenance and operational rules determine whether the connection can be used safely.
What is a jetty?
A jetty is a structure extending into water to support vessel access, landing or other maritime functions. Its design depends on shore conditions, waves, tides, seabed, vessel type and local use. Some small communities rely on modest landing facilities rather than large commercial ports.
The useful distinction is scale and purpose. A deepwater cargo port handling container ships is not the same as a small jetty serving boats. Both can be nationally important because the value of infrastructure depends on the journey it supports. A tiny landing point may be the only practical connection between a village and medical supplies.
What was the South Paray project?
South Paray in Port Vila was the site of an important domestic wharf and terminal investment intended to improve inter-island transport. The Asian Development Bank reports that South Paray’s civil works were completed in April 2025 as part of its shipping-support project, with the broader programme including safety and service coordination work.
The ADB’s 2026 Vanuatu overview confirms completion of the South Paray domestic wharf construction. But the completion of a terminal is not a guarantee that all desired ferry routes, passenger facilities or operator services are available at all times. The next test is whether operators can safely use it, passengers receive clear information and cargo can move as intended.
Where are Lenakel and Litzlitz?
Lenakel is associated with the island of Tanna, while Litzlitz is a maritime location on Malekula. These sites were among the wharf improvement works supported by the Interisland Shipping Support Project. The ADB reported repairs or construction works at these facilities completed in 2022, with the South Paray component completed later.
The point of these projects was to strengthen a chain of connections rather than enhance one central harbour alone. A freight vessel needs useful facilities both where it begins and where it arrives. Better landing conditions can reduce delays and assist trade, but maintenance and operating arrangements remain essential over the life of the infrastructure.
Were all proposed wharves completed?
No. Project documentation distinguishes between works completed and proposed components that did not proceed under the same financing arrangements. In particular, ADB’s later reporting states that the Port Sandwich and Simonsen packages were not progressed under that project because of a financing gap.
This matters for accurate infrastructure journalism. An early press release can list ambitious works without proving they were all finished. Use a later project-status report to distinguish completion, redesign, cancellation and future proposals. The reliable account is that South Paray, Lenakel and Litzlitz were completed within the reported stages, while other planned sites had different outcomes under that project.
Who manages maritime safety in Vanuatu?
Vanuatu has regulatory and administrative bodies concerned with shipping safety, vessel requirements and ports. The Office of the Maritime Regulator was established under the Maritime Sector Regulatory Act 2016 and began operating in 2017. Other agencies have different responsibilities, including port management and vessel registration.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities’ regulators overview explains the Maritime Regulator and Commissioner of Maritime Affairs arrangements. The Ports and Marine Department is concerned with ports, harbourmasters and relevant legislation. A safe journey depends on operator compliance, infrastructure, weather information and informed passengers—not merely the existence of a government office.
How do passengers check if a vessel is safe?
The relevant maritime laws and official travel advisories require attention to seaworthiness, certification, appropriate equipment and operator competence. A passenger should verify an authorised operator and current safety arrangements, especially for remote routes where assistance may be difficult.
Australia’s Vanuatu travel advisory warns that although inter-island vessels are required to have current seaworthiness certificates, some services may not comply; New Zealand’s advisory also notes concerns about local marine safety. These are important reminders that a website advertising a ferry does not itself certify the vessel. This article does not assess individual operators or voyages.
Why can the sea be risky even on a short route?
Conditions near islands can change with weather, wind, swells, currents and the availability of suitable shelter. A short crossing can become dangerous when a boat is overloaded, poorly maintained or operated contrary to safety rules. Vessel design and the experience of crew members matter too.
A timetable or social-media photo should never override current safety instructions. The sensible question is whether the service is properly authorised, the vessel is suitable for the conditions, and passengers understand the operator’s safety procedures. Maritime safety belongs in everyday transport planning, not only in emergency reports after an incident.
What happens when a cyclone interrupts shipping?
A cyclone can make sea travel unsafe, close ports and damage wharves, roads, power lines and communications. Ships may need to remain in safe locations, and deliveries may be delayed. Small islands with few alternative routes can be affected even when the worst winds do not strike them directly.
The network effect is serious. A clinic may run low on supplies, a farmer may miss a buyer’s collection window, and a household may need to manage with existing food stock. The solution is advance planning, reliable public warnings, appropriate local reserves and coordinated restoration. Current cyclone warnings belong to the National Disaster Management Office and other competent authorities, not to an educational article published on a fixed date.
What happened after the 2024 Port Vila earthquake?
The December 2024 earthquake caused extensive disruption around Port Vila, affecting buildings and important infrastructure. Air, road and port services can be sensitive to such damage because connections depend on safe structures and operating facilities. Recovery planning needs engineering inspections, safe access and clear public information.
The Asian Development Bank’s 2026 country overview describes the continuing effect of recovery and reconstruction spending after the earthquake. Rebuilding a harbour or road is part of restoring public services, not just repairing concrete. The key test is whether passengers and freight can complete a safe trip again.
What does maritime insurance do?
Insurance and other financial arrangements can help operators and cargo owners manage specified risks, depending on their contracts and cover. Insurers may assess vessels, routes, safety practices and weather-related exposures. Insurance does not replace professional maritime safety procedures or make a dangerous voyage acceptable.
For a business shipping perishables, delays or loss may create substantial commercial costs. Appropriate contracts, documentation and risk planning matter alongside refrigeration and transit time. A robust supply chain has clear responsibilities if cargo is late, damaged or missing. The conditions of an individual insurance product must be checked with a qualified provider.
How does inter-island transport affect food prices?
Imported goods often enter through international gateways before moving through domestic distribution. An outer-island retailer may pay for additional freight handling, boat journeys, storage and local road delivery. Irregular shipping can also force businesses to maintain larger inventories and absorb greater spoilage risk.
Those costs can appear in supermarket prices even when the wholesale product is inexpensive. A household in Port Vila and a household on a remote island may therefore experience the same national inflation trend differently. Reliable maritime services can help reduce uncertainty, but geography, fuel costs, competition and capacity still influence the final price.
Why do farmers need predictable ship arrivals?
Farmers can prepare products for buyers only when they have realistic ways to deliver them. A cocoa producer, kava grower or market-garden household may need to know when a vessel is expected so harvesting, processing and packaging can be timed appropriately. Some goods deteriorate if they wait too long.
An erratic transport connection can discourage investment in production. That is one reason the ADB’s shipping-support programme linked more reliable routes to potential agricultural growth. The service itself can stimulate demand, creating a positive cycle: better access encourages production; more production generates cargo; regular cargo makes services more sustainable. The relationship still depends on commercial conditions and responsible project management.
What about fish, cold storage and transport?
Fishing supports livelihoods in suitable coastal communities. Fish may need ice, chilling or other appropriate handling before reaching consumers. Transport availability affects how far a product can be sold and how much of its value the community retains.
A fishing boat that returns with a catch still needs safe landing and a route to buyers. If ice is unavailable because electricity has failed, the market value can fall quickly. This makes refrigeration, power, ports and vessel schedules part of a fisheries system. Improving one component without the others may bring disappointing results.
How do building materials reach smaller islands?
Construction materials such as steel, roofing, cement and machinery often need sea freight because of weight and volume. A school-rebuilding project may rely on several deliveries and safe handling at a suitable wharf. Contractors must plan storage and road access as well as building work.
If the first materials reach an island but the next shipment is delayed, workers may be unable to continue. During disaster recovery, many communities may demand shipping at once, making prioritisation necessary. A responsible rebuilding budget considers transport and scheduling rather than calculating only the price of materials at the original supplier.
Why does island connectivity matter to school access?
A child may attend a local primary school but need to travel to another town or island for a suitable next educational stage or specialised opportunity. Teachers, books and school equipment may also arrive through maritime or air transport. The availability and price of safe travel therefore affect educational choices.
The best answer is not to send every child to the capital. Distance-learning resources and local provision can help, but practical transport remains important for some services and examinations. For a dedicated national school guide, see Understanding the Education System of Vanuatu. This article focuses on the physical connections that support educational access.
How does transport affect healthcare?
Remote healthcare may depend on regular delivery of medicines, reliable communication and safe patient referrals. A local clinic can treat many conditions, but certain emergencies require specialist assessment or a hospital on another island. Travel by boat or aircraft must follow the professional and safety arrangements appropriate to the patient and conditions.
A community may have an excellent local nurse yet be unable to obtain a needed medicine if freight is interrupted. Conversely, a suitable referral centre may be available but inaccessible because weather has closed the route. Good healthcare planning connects local capability, stock management, communication and emergency transport instead of measuring only the number of clinics.
Can telemedicine solve all transport problems?
Telemedicine can support remote consultation, follow-up and medical communication in appropriate cases, but it depends on electricity, connectivity and staff at the local end. Many procedures and emergencies still require physical examination, treatment or transfer. Digital health should complement reliable transport, not be advertised as its universal replacement.
A clinician may advise a local nurse by video or phone, while laboratory samples, vaccines or specialised equipment still travel physically. The lesson applies to schools and public administration too: good digital systems reduce some journeys, but a country of islands continues to need safe, functioning boats and aircraft.
What do roads do when the country depends on boats?
Roads connect villages, farms and workplaces to wharves, airstrips, markets and clinics within each island. Their quality matters even if the inter-island trip itself is by sea or air. A damaged bridge can make a functioning ferry useless to communities inland of the terminal.
Picture a cocoa grower who must first travel an hour on a local road before meeting the cargo vessel. If the road becomes impassable after rain, the maritime schedule cannot solve the journey. Transport works as a chain. This is why road maintenance, safe landing sites and shipping coordination should be planned together rather than as unrelated projects.
What do provincial authorities contribute?
Vanuatu has six provinces—Torba, Sanma, Penama, Malampa, Shefa and Tafea—with local and national institutions coordinating services under the law. Provincial administrators can help identify local transport needs, while national regulators and ministries carry out duties assigned to them.
A village on a remote island may have priorities quite different from Port Vila’s urban terminal. Effective planning listens to local communities, operators, health and education providers and businesses. The question is not whether every island receives identical infrastructure but whether services are appropriate, safe and sufficiently dependable for local needs.
Why are some routes more expensive than others?
The price of a journey reflects distance, fuel, vessel or aircraft type, maintenance, crew costs, insurance, passenger and freight volume, competition, port facilities and the need to return equipment to another location. Small or irregular markets can make cost per passenger higher.
A subsidised route may be affordable because public money supports a service with large social benefits. That does not mean all routes should have the same fare or that subsidy design is automatically efficient. Evaluating a service requires comparing cost, safety, access and whether it genuinely helps people reach essential services and markets.
How do international tourists affect domestic connections?
Tourism creates demand for flights, ferries, accommodation and local services. Visitor spending may support commercial routes that also serve residents, but busy holiday seasons can create capacity pressure or raise fares. Tourist demand is not identical to public-service need.
A route that works well for weekend visitors may still be inconvenient for a student needing weekly travel or a clinic receiving scheduled supplies. Transport policy therefore needs a broader service view than visitor numbers alone. Routes should be assessed by who relies on them, not just the revenue collected from a scenic destination.
What should a traveller check before island hopping?
Check current flight or sailing availability directly with the authorised operator, the correct island and terminal, baggage or freight limits, weather, cancellations and current travel advisories. Verify any necessary tickets, identification and local requirements. For boats, current seaworthiness and safety information deserve particular attention.
Vanuatu’s official tourism guidance notes that some ferry services do not follow rigid schedules. Australia’s and New Zealand’s official travel advice also warn about safety and service disruption. A pleasant travel article or a timetable saved six months ago cannot confirm real-time bookability or safe conditions. This article explains the transport network, not a specific reservation.
What makes a strong island transport system?
The system needs suitable vessels and aircraft, safe terminals, trained crews, predictable service, maintenance, weather information, reasonable costs and clear regulatory oversight. It should also have contingency plans for disasters and a way for remote communities to communicate their needs.
An impressive central terminal is helpful, but it has limited value if the destination wharf is unsafe or vessels do not sail. Equally, a new aircraft adds little if its maintenance cannot be sustained. A country succeeds when the full journey is reliable and people can use the service. The ADB’s Vanuatu project provides a practical example of investment in both infrastructure and operating arrangements.
Case study: a student travels from an outer island to school
A student needs to attend a programme not offered locally. The family first checks the correct school arrangements, then identifies a current boat or flight connection. They must consider the journey from home to terminal, timing, cost, safety and where the student will stay if travel cannot be completed in one day.
If a service operates only occasionally, the family has to plan further ahead. Digital lesson materials may help with some continuity, but they do not substitute for every in-person school requirement. The case illustrates why transport and education planning should cooperate, especially for remote communities.
Case study: a ship delivers roofing after a cyclone
A supplier ships roofing materials from a major port to an affected island. The vessel must be suitable for the conditions, the destination needs a usable landing point and local teams must unload and distribute the materials safely. Roads, storage and construction workers then complete the next part of the recovery chain.
If a wharf is damaged, deliveries may need temporary authorised arrangements. The operation’s success depends on engineering assessments, weather and coordination with local authorities. A shipment leaving the capital is not the same thing as a repaired home. Evaluating disaster response means following the goods until residents can use the rebuilt infrastructure.
Case study: a cocoa farmer gains a reliable service
A cocoa farmer can now plan around a shipping route that meets an agreed service frequency. The crop is harvested, processed and delivered to a local collection point. A vessel transports it to a market or processor, and the farmer receives payment through the applicable commercial arrangement.
The advantage is not just a shorter trip; it is more certainty. Knowing a buyer can receive the product may encourage better processing and production. The ADB’s supported-route model aimed to create this kind of confidence for remote communities. The long-term test is whether routes remain safe, well managed and financially viable after the initial project period.
Case study: a cancelled flight changes a medical journey
A family has a referral appointment on another island, but weather cancels a scheduled flight. The local provider and appropriate travel operators must review safe options, timing and clinical needs. An alternative route may not exist that day, and forcing a journey would not necessarily be safe.
The system needs communication between the clinic, receiving facility and authorised transport arrangements so that care can be adjusted appropriately. This is why resilience includes telecommunication and referral planning, not just adding more seats to aircraft. Patient safety and professional clinical guidance take priority over meeting a travel deadline.
Case study: a village’s wharf is repaired
A coastal village previously had difficulty unloading cargo from larger vessels. A new or repaired landing facility improves access under appropriate conditions, allowing safer handling and more predictable services. Yet the facility still needs inspections, maintenance, an access road and operators willing and able to call there.
This is the clearest infrastructure lesson in the article. A wharf connects sea transport with life ashore, but the wider network determines its value. Evaluate whether food, medicines, passengers and products can now complete journeys more reliably, not merely whether the concrete is finished.
How should students study Vanuatu’s transport system?
Draw a map with Efate, Espiritu Santo, Tanna, Malekula and several smaller islands. Mark Port Vila and Luganville as important hubs. Use different arrows for flights, maritime transport and local road links. Add a school, a clinic, a farm and a market to different islands.
Now remove one flight or wharf connection and ask who is affected. The result shows why geography, public finance, safety regulation and commercial incentives must work together. Compare with How Singapore Works | Civilisation: Singapore’s dense expressway network and Vanuatu’s dispersed island transport solve very different physical problems using a shared principle of connected systems.
Frequently asked questions about travelling between Vanuatu’s islands
Can people travel between Vanuatu’s islands by ferry? Some islands are served by ferries or other authorised inter-island vessels; routes and schedules vary. Are there domestic flights? Yes, with current service depending on airlines, aircraft and island airstrips. Why aren’t flights or boats always daily? Weather, low demand, costs and limited capacity affect frequency. What are the main hubs? Port Vila and Luganville are significant gateways.
Why do remote routes need subsidies? They can be socially valuable while generating insufficient revenue to cover commercial operating costs. What is South Paray? A domestic maritime terminal project in Port Vila, with major construction completed by 2025. Who oversees maritime safety? Appropriate Vanuatu maritime regulators and authorities under current law. Is a booked boat guaranteed safe? No. Verify the vessel, operator and official travel advice. Can a cyclone disrupt both air and sea routes? Yes, and local road access too.
Continue learning how Vanuatu works
Read How Vanuatu Works | Islands, Government, Economy and Natural Disasters for the national overview and Why Vanuatu Has Cyclones and Earthquakes for the hazard connection.
The wider archive is How Countries Work. Compare with How Uganda Works | Lake Victoria, Water and Fishing to see a different inland-water transport environment, and How Singapore Works for a contrasting dense urban network.
Sources and editorial update
Primary sources: ADB Vanuatu Interisland Shipping Support Project and implementation details, ADB’s 2026 Vanuatu overview, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities regulator directory, Ports and Marine Department, and the January 2026 government statement on domestic aircraft.
For current journey planning, use Vanuatu Tourism Office island-travel guidance, Air Vanuatu flight schedules, and the official Australian or New Zealand safety advisories. Editorial review: 20 October 2026. This educational article does not confirm current availability, pricing, operator authorisation or voyage safety.