Fulton Hogan contracted to repair Vanuatu's Bauerfield Airport

Transcript

The Vanautu government has signed a contract with New Zealand company Fulton Hogan to carry out emergency repairs to the runway at Port Vila's Bauerfield Airport.

Air New Zealand, Qantas, and Virgin Australia last month stopped flying to the airport, citing concerns about the runway's safety.

The new government met for the first time last week, where one of its first tasks was to attempt to fix the runway situation.

The new minister of public utilities, Jotham Napat, told Hilaire Bule the initial repair work should begin in mid-March, when a shipment of materials arrives.

JOTHAM NAPAT: The runway itself requires rapid maintenance. Some patches towards the end of the runway. So we have contracted this company to come and bring Bauerfield Airport up to the required standard, so we can cater for flights from Australia, New Zealand that have been withdrawn from coming to Port Vila.

HILAIRE BULE: How long is the temporary work scheduled to be in place?

JN: It should last about six months, and this is basically temporary patching up. As soon as patching up is completed, we also are looking at more long-term solutions to address Bauerfield Airport.

HB: And what is the long term solution?

JN: We want to make it meet the requirements of ICAO so that we can get more regular flights. I know for the runway it has a lifespan of 15 years so we want to increase that to another 15 years. While the government is also looking at deciding on a new long haul flight airport. And the ministry which I am responsible of are developing a plan to go before the council of ministers for the council of ministers to actually decide where is the best location for these long haul flight airports. My view is that Santo would probably be the ideal location for this long haul flight.

HB: During Moana Carcasses prime ministership there were plans to relocate the airport. Where are those plans at now?

JN: That's already shelved. A new government is coming in with a new policy direction. You have just a perfect location, on Santo, it's a big island. The government has already purchased a big land space that would accommodate an expansion of this type of long haul flight airports. And it is just common sense that the government should look at what is already made available rather than fighting over where the airport should be located.

HB: A bigger airport, minister, will also need the internal airports in the islands to shift tourists arriving in Santo. Do you have plans to build new airports in the islands?

JN: You have already got the airports. I mean Port Vila is an international airport and basically we would like to improve on the facilities, not just Bauerfield. There are airports within the surrounding islands.