Pacific / Vanuatu

Vanuatu says airfield rehab to meet April deadline

11:31 am on 23 March 2016

Vanuatu's government says works at Bauerfield Airport in Port Vila are on track for completion by mid-April.

The government said tourists can plan for May arrivals.

In January, some airlines, including Air New Zealand and Virgin, stopped flying to the capital's airport, citing safety concerns over the runway's condition.

Vanuatu's main international airport Bauerfield at Port Vila Photo: RNZI/Beverley Tse

The government spokesman, Kiery Manassah, said there had been conflicting information about the completion date, with some tourism outlets and airlines saying the job wouldn't be completed until May.

But he said 72 percent of the spraying treatment had been completed and 40 percent of the crack sealing is done.

Although works are on track for a mid-April deadline, Mr Manassah said May is a safe bet for tourists to plan towards.

"The government wants to assure the tourism sector that come May, let's say come May, everything should be done and people should be able to travel freely and book their flights and continue coming to Vanuatu."