22 Jan 2018

Hundreds to be relocated for Vanuatu airport upgrade

12:10 pm on 22 January 2018

Hundreds of residents are to be relocated due to plans by Vanuatu's government to extend Santo's Pakoa International Airport.

Santo's Pakoa International Airport

Santo's Pakoa International Airport Photo: Flickr/ angrysunbird

The Daily Post reported that Minister of Land Alfred Maoh had confirmed that the government had already purchased the land to cater for the airport extension.

It means over 300 people with permanent homes in the area have to be relocated to new plots allocated to them by the government.

The extension project at Vanuatu's second main airport comes as construction recently began on the extension of the country's main international gateway, Bauerfield International Airport.

The Bauerfield extension is being built by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation and will allow for bigger international aircraft to land in Vanuatu.

Clearance work has also started for rehabilitation of White grass International Airport on Tanna which is one of Vanuatu's fastest growiong tourist destinations.