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✈️ Air Vanuatu: A Comprehensive Review Based on Real Passenger Experiences

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Booking & Website/App Experience

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Passengers frequently report that booking requires emailing customer service rather than through a modern platform. While functional, it’s inefficient for travelers expecting instant confirmations:

“requires emails to Air Vanuatu … unusual but worked”

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Check-in Process

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Skytrax notes that check-in and boarding services are included in the 3-star rating. Domestic check-in is generally straightforward, but some travelers have experienced stress due to flight cancellations and limited communication about them .

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Airport Experience

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Port Vila Bauerfield—Air Vanuatu’s hub—offers basic but adequate services. Premium check-in and lounge access are available for business class. However, flight delays and cancellations have caused passenger frustration.

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Flight Punctuality

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Frequent disruptions have significantly impaired reliability. Reports include:

• “They stole my money and ruined my holiday” due to overbooking.
• Cancellations without prior notice, and delays over an hour without announcements.
• Voluntary liquidation in May 2024 following prolonged disruptions.

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In‑Flight Comfort & Cleanliness

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Skytrax highlights that cabin cleanliness and presentation “could be better” and that seat comfort is “satisfactory”. TripAdvisor users echo this sentiment:

“planes were clean and comfortable”.

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In‑Flight Services

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Service standards vary:

• Business class meals are generally good; economy standards fall short.
• Mixed cabin crew service with occasional friendly staff, but with reports of inconsistency .
• In-flight entertainment is minimal (“entertainment/wifi: 4.8/10”).

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Food & Beverages

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

• Economy meal quality is inconsistent and often basic .
• Passengers on international routes appreciated hot meal choices, especially to Brisbane .

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Baggage Handling

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Limited direct feedback on baggage, but operational disruptions likely affected baggage delivery. Skytrax includes baggage timeliness in its ratings .

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Value for Money

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Value hinges on flight reliability and service consistency. Since 2023, disruptions and eventual grounding in May 2024 undermined perceived value. Passengers expressed strong dissatisfaction over cancellations and refunds .

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Overall Experience

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Flight-Report’s average score of 6.0/10 reflects mixed opinions:

• Positives: comfortable planes, friendly staff
• Negatives: inconsistent meals, weak entertainment, poor communication, operational issues

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Final Verdict

Air Vanuatu offers a fundamental, locally-focused carrier experience. Recent passenger feedback highlights:

✅ Strengths:

• Clean cabins and comfortable seating on most flights
• Friendly crew members, especially on domestic routes
• Hot meals on select international flights

⚠️ Weaknesses:

• Outdated booking system requiring emails
• Operational instability: frequent delays, cancellations, and liquidation in May 2024
• Economy cabin services and food vary in quality
• Lack of entertainment and weak communication

Final Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

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Summary Table

Aspect	Rating	Highlights
Booking & Website/App	2/5	Email booking required; slow and outdated.
Check-in Process	3/5	Functional, but affected by flight disruptions and poor communication.
Airport Experience	3/5	Adequate facilities; lounge access; delays and cancellations take toll.
Flight Punctuality	2/5	Frequent delays/cancellations; grounded May 2024. Lack of timely updates.
In-Flight Comfort & Cleanliness	3/5	Clean cabins; seats variably comfortable.
In-Flight Services	3/5	Economy service inconsistent; business class fare better.
Food & Beverages	3/5	Hot meals on international routes; basic economy offerings.
Baggage Handling	3/5	No specific complaints, but operational issues likely affected baggage.
Value for Money	2/5	Service reliability impacts value; price not justified during disruptions.
Overall Experience	2/5	Mixed reviews; limited infrastructure; local value overshadowed by operational stability issues.

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In summary:
Air Vanuatu serves as a simple, island-focused carrier with some strengths in domestic service and crew friendliness. However, the frequent delays, cancellations, lack of digital tools, and financial collapse in May 2024 significantly diminish its value. Travelers should consider alternatives for international travel until operations stabilize.

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This review is based on passenger experiences and publicly available sources as of mid‑2025. Individual experiences may vary.