Air Vanuatu’s sole ATR72 resumes flying after long grounding

By Andrew Curran.

Air Vanuatu’s sole ATR72-600 will resume scheduled flying on March 3, 2026, after spending eight months on the ground awaiting a replacement engine part.

CEO Joseph Laloyer confirmed the restart date via the VBTC outlet after a plane spotter posted footage online of the aircraft, YJ-AV73 (msn 1358), undertaking a test flight at Port Vila (VLI) on February 27.

An official social media account run by the office of Vanuatu’s prime minister also acknowledged the aircraft’s imminent return to service.

The ATR72-600 last operated revenue flights on August 1, 2025, when “a technical issue” with one of the Pratt & Whitney 127M engines forced Air Vanuatu to ground the plane.

At the time, Laloyer said that there was a global shortage of ATR engines, and sourcing a replacement could take time.

But it was never entirely clear what the precise problem was with the engine, or whether the entire engine needed replacing, or just a part of it. The airline and the government were opaque about it and the reporting was mixed.

However, in September 2025, the Vanuatu Government confirmed it would cost USD2.5 million to get the ATR back in the air and set aside the funds.

Several weeks ago, Vanuatu’s Daily Post newspaper reported that the government expected the ATR to return to service around the end of February. Citing local aviation sources, the report said the airline was awaiting the delivery of “a replacement engine component.”

The prime minister’s public relations officer said the issue was “a component of the engine, not the entire engine.”

Before its grounding, YJ-AV73 regularly flew the Luganville (SON) – Port Vila and Tanna (TAH) – Port Vila routes. After the grounding. Air Vanuatu temporarily wet-leased an ATR72 from Air Calédonie to maintain the flights.

The ATR’s return to service is the second significant fleet development for Air Vanuatu this year. In late January, it took delivery of a DHC-6-300 Twin Otter, although that aircraft is yet to start revenue flights. Air Vanuatu expects another Twin Otter shortly.

That will boost Air Vanuatu’s Twin Otter fleet to five aircraft (although one is parked long term). Alongside the ATR72, the bigger fleet will improve the airline’s operational resilience and its capacity to serve Vanuatu’s many islands.

Photo: Air Vanuatu

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com