30 Mar 2016

Work at Vanuatu's second airport gets green light

4:05 pm on 30 March 2016

The Vanuatu government has given the go-ahead for an upgrade of the country's second international airport, on Santo.

Pekoa Airport in Luganville is to be made capable of taking wide bodied jets and made internationally compliant.

A dump site at the end of the airport is to be removed and the Ministry of Lands has been directed to acquire land that may be needed for the development.

The Pekoa development plans come as the main airport in Port Vila, Bauerfield, is undergoing repairs after complaints from international airlines about the state of the runway.

Santo, Vanuatu

Santo, Vanuatu Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

A more comprehensive rebuild and extension of Bauerfield is due later this year with a low cost loan from the World Bank.

Part of the Bank's funding will go towards the work at Pekoa.