Airport Overview
Santo International Airport is an airport in Luganville on Espiritu Santo Island. The airport used to be called Santo-Pekoa International Airport until it was renamed in the Vanuatu AIPV amendment released on 16 June 2021. Airports Vanuatu Limited provides aviation services for the airport.
Santo International Airport is the second biggest airport in Vanuatu, but for an international airport it is quite modest in size and structure. The airport has one runway. Cargo / baggage handling are mostly through manual labour.
Airport Location and Contact |
|
---|---|
Country |
Vanuatu |
Province or District |
Espiritu Santo Island, Sanma Province |
Nearest Town or City |
Luganville 4.4 km |
Airport’s Complete Name |
Santo International Airport |
Latitude |
-15.50500 |
Longitude |
167.22000 |
Elevation (ft and m) |
135 ft |
IATA Code |
SON |
ICAO Code |
NVSS |
Managing Company or Airport Authority |
Airports Vanuatu Limited |
Management Contact Person |
Kevin Abel General Manager Operations P: +678 25111 M: +678 5547402 |
Open From (hours) |
First scheduled flight of the day |
Open To (hours) |
Last scheduled flight of the day |
Airport Picture
Description and Contacts of Key Companies
-
Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL): AVL is a public company and is the owner and operator of the Santo 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.
-
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.
-
Air Vanuatu: National airline and operates domestic and international flights to and from Santo International Airport. Services includes ground handling, cargo handling and storage, aircraft engineering, freight forwarding and luggage storage for its flights.
-
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 for all non-Air Vanuatu flights.
-
Customs and Inland Revenue (Border Control): Execute and enforce relevant laws and regulations to protect the welfare of Vanuatu. Facilitation of cargo clearance and collection of revenue on import duties, VAT and Excise tax at the borders and ports of entry.
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 2019
|
Per Year |
Per Month |
Per Day |
---|---|---|---|
Total Aircraft Movements |
1664 |
~ 139 |
~ 4 |
Total Passengers |
115,734 |
9,645 |
317 |
Current use by Humanitarian Flights (PHAS) |
0 |
|
|
International flights are operated by Air Vanuatu, Solomon Airlines and Virgin Australia.
Domestic flights are operated by Air Vanuatu, Air Taxi, Unity Airlines and Belair Airways.
Plane types that can service Santo International Airport: Boeing 737-800, ATR 72-600, ATR 42, twin otter, BN-2 Islander and small private jets
Runways
Runway |
|
---|---|
Runway Dimensions |
1,988 m x 30 m |
Orientation |
12 / 30 |
Surface |
Asphalt |
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.
Helipad |
|
---|---|
Present |
Yes |
Largest Helicopter that can land |
No limit |
Width and Length (m) |
N/A |
Surface |
Asphalt and grass |
Airport Infrastructure Details
Customs |
Yes |
JET A-1 fuel |
Yes |
Immigration |
Yes |
AVGAS 100 |
Yes |
Terminal Building |
Yes |
Single Point Refuelling |
Yes |
Passenger Terminal |
Yes |
Air Starter Units |
Yes |
Cargo terminal |
Yes |
Ground Power (mobile) |
Yes |
Pax Transport to Airfield |
No |
Ground Handling Services |
Yes |
Control Tower |
Yes |
Latrine Servicing |
Yes |
Weather Facilities |
Yes |
Fire Fighting Category (ICAO) |
7 |
Catering Services |
N/A |
De-icing Equipment |
N/A |
Base Operating Room |
Yes |
Parking Ramp Lighting |
Yes |
Airport Radar |
No |
Approach & Runway Lights |
Yes |
Non-directional Beacons (NDB) |
|
Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR) |
|
Instrument Landing System (ILS) |
|
|
|
Airport Operating Details
Operating Details |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo |
Boeing 737 or C-17 military aircraft on load restriction |
||
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet |
Boeing 737 or C-17 military aircraft on load restriction |
||
Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²) |
4 (1 x ATR and 3 x twin otters at the same time) |
||
Storage Area (m3 and MT) |
There is a small storage area used by Air Vanuatu for their cargo, but it is insufficient for use during an emergency response |
||
Handling Equipment |
|||
Elevators / Hi Loaders |
Will be available by December 2023 |
Max Capacity (MT) |
|
Max Height (m) |
|
||
Loading Ramps |
Available |
||
Other Comments |
|
Customs Guidance
Customs and Biosecurity offices are located close to the airport. The Customs Office is open from 08:00am to 05:00pm. 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.
Contact details:
Customs Santo International Airport P: +678 33781 VoIP: 6517 / 6518 |
Customs Santo Post Office P: +678 33780 VoIP: 6902 |
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 carpark or grassy area beside the airport.
Airfield Costs
NAVIGATION CHARGES
Charges |
Aircraft Weight - MTOW (kg) |
||
---|---|---|---|
|
0 - 20,000 kg |
20,001 - 60,000 kg |
Over 60,000 kg |
Navigation (per journey) |
|
|
|
Landing |
VUV 385.00 |
VUV 533.50 |
VUV 803.00 |
Night Landing |
VUV 16,500 |
||
Night Take-Off |
VUV 16,500 |
||
Parking |
|
||
Handling Charges |
Ground handling and border control services have their own fee schedule. For more details, please contact them directly. |
FUEL SERVICES CHARGES
Fuel services are not readily available for unscheduled flights. It is important for emergency response aircrafts to order fuel supplies several days in advance e.g. for an ATR 72-600 or Boeing 737, the request must be submitted a week in advance of fuel needs. AVL provides a 3,000 L tank to transport fuel from the terminal to the airport.
Refuelling services for aircrafts are only available in Port Vila and Espiritu Santo.
|
Price per Litre USD - $ |
---|---|
JET A1 |
VUV 215 (USD 1.76) |
AVGAS |
VUV 291 (USD 2.39) |
CARGO TERMINAL CHARGES
Import Charges |
||
---|---|---|
Type of Charge |
Rate USD - $ per kg |
Comments |
Handling Charge |
Forklift usage: VUV 700 (USD 5.90) / kg VUV 1,500 (USD 12.65) / kg VUV 2,000 (USD 16.87) / kg VUV 2,500 (USD 21.09) / kg (Increased by VUV 700 (USD 5.90) for every 500 kg)
Terminal handling charges: VUV 1,100 (USD 9.28) up to 28 kg
VUV 8,000 (USD 67.47) / AWB VUV 2,500 (USD21.09) / AWB |
75 kg – 499 kg 500 kg – 999 kg 1,000 kg – 1,499 kg 1,500 kg – 1,999 kg
Minimum charge per consignment Valuable (VAT incl.) AVI (VAT incl.) |
Break Bulk Fee |
VUV 40 (USD 0.34) / kg |
|
|
VUV 30 (USD 0.25) / kg |
|
Strong Room – per consignment |
Information not available |
|
Cold Storage Fee |
VUV 1,300 (USD 10.96) / hour
VUV 250 (USD 2.11) / hour
VUV 25 (USD 0.21) / kg |
Cool room (special storage) Fridge (special storage) Handling of cargo for cool room storage and removal |
Delivery Outside Normal Working Hours |
Information not available |
|
Import Documentation Fee |
VUV 5,500 (USD 46.39) – VAT incl.
VUV 2,000 (USD 16.87) – VAT incl.
VUV 3,600 (USD 30.36) – VAT incl.
VUV 700 (USD 5.90) – VAT incl. |
Process of imports documents by Master Air Waybill with multiple HAWB Process of imports documents by Master Air Waybill with single HAWB Dummy Air Waybill issuance – per Air Waybill Electronic processing and reporting of manifest to Customs |
Storage per Day |
General cargo, perishable and vaccines: Free
VUV 30 (USD 0.25) / kg
|
Loose freight – up to 24 hours from 2359 hours on the date of check-in Loose freight – beyond free period |
Export |
||
Handling Charges – Un-palletized Cargo |
Terminal handling charges: VUV 1,100 (USD 9.28) up to 28 kg
VUV 40 (USD 0.34) / kg |
Minimum charge per consignment Loose freight |
International Air Waybill |
Information not available |
|
Local Air Waybill |
Information not available |
|
Air Waybill Amendment - Cancellation |
Information not available |
|
Air Waybill Documentation |
Information not available |
|
|
VUV 40 (USD 0.34) / kg |
|
Storage Charges per Day |
General cargo, perishable and vaccines: Free
VUV 30 (USD 0.25) / kg |
General freight lodged within 24 hours prior to uplift or removed prior its scheduled time/flight of departure from the day of check-in (applicable to security-screened cargo only) Storage beyond 24 hours free period (applicable to security-screened cargo only) |
AIR-BRIDGE CHARGES
Passenger air bridge is not used at Santo International Airport.
Security
Airports Vanuatu Limited provides security for the airport. Security issues are low however, for security reasons, it is prohibited to take photos, videos or make phone calls at the airport security inspection area.