Airport Overview 

Whitegrass Airport, also known as White Grass Airport or Tanna Airport, is an airport on the island of Tanna in Tafea Province. 

There is a fuel depot beside the airport, but refuelling service is only available for the Twin Otter and BN-2 Islander. ATR and bigger planes must carry enough fuel to return to Bauerfield International Airport on Efate Island for refuelling. 

Airport Picture 

Description and Contacts of Key Companies 

• Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV): CAAV is a statutory body under the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities which oversees all aspects of Vanuatu’s civil aviation system including regulating access to all airports. CAAV provides regulatory services on aviation security and safety standards in Vanuatu and is also the primary regulator of autonomous flying drone operations within Vanuatu airspace. 

• Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL): AVL is a public company and is the owner and operator of the Whitegrass International Airport. With an employee base of about 60, AVL’s mandate is to deliver safe, secure and compliant aviation at their airports in Vanuatu. 

• Vanuatu Terminal Services (VTS): VTS is a subsidiary company of AVL and is a private company incorporated under the Vanuatu Companies Act. VTS services include ground handling, cargo handling and storage, aircraft engineering, freight forwarding, custom brokerage and luggage storage. 

• Air Vanuatu: National airline and operates domestic and international flights to and from Whitegrass International Airport. Services includes ground handling, cargo handling and storage, aircraft engineering, freight forwarding and luggage storage for its flights. 

For more information on airport contacts, please see the following link: 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List. 

Information on some aviation service providers can be found at: http://www.azfreight.com/  

Passenger and Cargo Performance Indicator 

Performance for 2022 

The airport currently receives twin otters, BN-2 Islander and the ATR 72-600. 

Runways 

Helicopter Pad(s) 

There is no designated helipad site however, helicopters can land on the fixed wing parking space and there is ample grass area surrounding the runway. 

Airport Infrastructure Details 

Airport Operating Details 

Customs Guidance 

If needed, Customs and Biosecurity officers can come to the airport for clearance. Their tasks include cargo clearance processing, documentary checks on import and export documents, physical examination of imports and exports, receipting of customs duties and taxes on imported goods and regular reporting to the Manager Customs Revenue. 

It is recommended to arrange cargo inspections and clearances in advance of the cargo landing. 

Documents required by Customs for clearance of relief items: 

• Tax exemption letter from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) 

• Commercial invoices 

• Freight statements 

• Other charges statements 

• Packing lists 

• Bills of lading 

• Cargo manifest 

• Sanitary or phytosanitary certificate (where required) 

• Airway bills 

The role of raising and lodging customs declarations for the clearance of goods is vested on customs agents licensed by Customs. However, regular importers who hold a valid Broker’s license can do their own clearances. For relief items whereby NDMO has received prior advice and full documentation, NDMO will engage Vanuatu Terminal Services for clearance. 

Important to note that when sending relief items, only relief items are to be included in the package, packing list/cargo manifest, tax exemption letter from NDMO, etc. No personal items are to be included as personal items are not tax exempt. 

Customs have established a standard cargo clearance processing time as follows: 

• Maximum of 3 working days for declaration of goods selected for physical examination – Red Lane 

• Maximum of 2 working days for declaration of goods selected for documentary examination – Yellow Lane 

• 5-10 minutes for declarations directly assessed – Green Lane 

Physical and documentary examinations are conducted by Customs officials when circumstances of imports and exports pose certain level of risks to the government revenue and border security. 

Physical and documentary examinations are done at the point of cargo clearance on red and yellow lanes. Compliance auditing is done post-clearance i.e. after goods are cleared and released from Customs control. 

For more information on customs in Vanuatu, please see the following link: 1.3 Customs Information.    

Storage Facilities 

There are no storage facilities available at the airport to manage an emergency response situation. A mobile storage unit would need to be erected in the grassy area. 

Airfield Costs 

NAVIGATION CHARGES 

FUEL SERVICES CHARGES 

There is a fuel depot beside the airport, but refuelling service is only available for the Twin Otter and BN-2 Islander. ATR and bigger planes must carry enough fuel to return to Bauerfield International Airport on Efate Island for refuelling. 

CARGO TERMINAL CHARGES 

AIR-BRIDGE CHARGES 

Passenger air bridge is not used at Whitegrass Airport. 

Security 

Airports Vanuatu Limited provides security. Security issues are low at Whitegrass Airport. The security at the airport is good.