Vanuatu - 2.2 Aviation

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There are three international airports in Vanuatu:

Efate Island (Port Vila): Bauerfield International Airport
Espiritu Santo Island: Santo International Airport

Tanna Island: Whitegrass Airport

Key airport information may also be found at: http://worldaerodata.com/

Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) is the agency responsible for managing the three internationally accredited airports in Vanuatu. Scope of responsibilities include upgrading the international airports, ensuring the safety and security of aircrafts and passengers, providing all air traffic control, aviation security, aviation rescue firefighting, navigation and communications services to full international ICAO standards and training Ni-Vanuatu personnel in aviation skills.

For more information on government agency and airport company contact information, please see the following links: 4.1 Government Contact List and 4.5 Airport Companies Contact List.

Airport	Bauerfield, Efate	Santo, Espiritu Santo	Whitegrass, Tanna
Regulations	Civil Aviation Rule sections 139/140 and ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices are complied with at all times.	Civil Aviation Rule sections 139/140/171/172 are complied with at all times.	Civil Aviation Rule section 139 is complied with at all times.
Aircraft capacity	Can facilitate Boeing 737 to 767 Can receive military C-17 on load restriction	Can facilitate aircraft types up to Boeing 737-300 Can receive Boeing 737-800 series and larger military aircrafts on load restrictions	Can facilitate aircraft types up to ATR 42 series Can receive ATR 72 series and larger military aircrafts (C-130) on load restrictions
Operations	Operation ensures terminal performs its function by utilizing two operational units – Housekeeping and Customer Service – and covers oversight on Security via the services of Aviation Security. Fire category 7.	ARFFS shift on CAT 6, Technical Services, Flight Information Service, AVSEC and Housekeeping Unit.	Operates ARFFS shift on CAT 4 and Housekeeping Unit.

Apart from the three international airports, there are 24 other landing strips, but these are managed by the Public Works Department within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities. Agents may be appointed by Public Works to maintain the airstrips.

Following natural disasters such as tropical cyclones, volcanic eruptions, ashfall, etc, landing strips must be cleared for operations before flights can resume and these may take a few weeks. National situation reports issued by the National Disaster Management Office during an emergency response will indicate the status of landing strips around the country.

Procedures for Foreign Registered Aircraft

For an aircraft intending to stay and operate in Vanuatu one month or more, registration is required from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vanuatu (CAAV).

Civil Aviation Department, Ministry of Infrastructure and Public Utilities:

Tel: +678 22819

Fax: +678 23783

Email: civav@vanuatu.com.vu

Website: www.airports.vu

For an emergency medivac aircraft arriving, a 24-hour notification must be provided to Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL) for landing approval.

For aircrafts arriving to assist with national emergencies, a 72-hour notification must be provided to AVL for landing approval. The absolute minimum is 24 hours. This applies to military aircrafts, maritime patrol aircrafts, cargo planes delivering relief supplies and dignitaries.

Non-Scheduled International Flights

Step 1: Request for landing approval

Request for landing approval to the Flight Approval Office via email to:

GM-OPS: gmops@airports.vu

Step 2: Choose a ground handling agent

Choose a ground handling agent who will assist you with the required steps - aircraft approval, aircraft arrival and departure times, apron marshalling, parking, customs, immigration, biosecurity and fee payments:

Vanuatu Terminal Services: rwane@vts.vu; jsam@vts.vu
Air Vanuatu Operations: rhaoul@airvanuatu.vu

Step 3: Provide your flight information

The Flight Approval Office will require you to provide the following information:

Aircraft type and registration
Aircraft call sign (if any) or use registration
Aircraft operator details

Arrival and departure aerodromes
Estimated arrival time and date
Estimated departure time and date
Purpose of flight: humanitarian assistance, technical stop, business, etc

Step 4: Calculate your charges

Aerodrome charges:

Aircraft Category	Weight	Rate per 1,000 kg (or part thereof)
1	Below 20,000 kg	VUV 385.00
2	20,001 kg to 60,000 kg	VUV 533.50
3	Over 60,001 kg	VUV 803.00

Flight approval: VUV 5,000
Landing charges outside daylight hours: VUV 16,500
Air navigation service charge: VUV 50 per 1,000 kg or part thereof
ATS service outside operating hours of watch: VUV 20,000
Aircraft parking:

Parking Time	Rate
First 12 hours	Free
12 to 48 hours	14% of standard landing fee per hour
More than 48 hours	VUV 2,000 per day

Departing passengers: VUV 3,400 per person
Ground handling and border control services have their own fee schedule. For more details, please contact them directly.

Step 5: Make your payment

All charges payable on arrival and prior to departure must be paid by the pilot in command of the aircraft to the ground handler or authorised AVL officer at the airport, unless by prior arrangement.

Runways

The runways across the 27 airports vary in size and surface. Most islands are only capable of receiving BN-2 Islander / twin otters, while others may handle an ATR aircraft.

Infrastructure

Most airstrips do not have lighting, air traffic control or navigation aids, firefighting equipment or perimeter fencing. It is land by sight only, so bad weather may prevent landings.
Air Vanuatu provides ground handling and a check-in agent for its flights only.

The terminal building in most airstrips may consist of a building with a set of scales and a small baggage trolley.

Fuel Service 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 in Vanuatu.

Refuelling services for aircrafts are only available in Port Vila and Espiritu Santo. All aircrafts must carry enough fuel to return to these locations to refuel. There is a fuel depot at Whitegrass Airport, but refuelling service is only available for the Twin Otter and BN-2 Islander.

The Air Vanuatu domestic flight route map below depicts all services that start and finish in either Santo or Port Vila.

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Find below the estimated cost of jet fuel as at 19 July 2023.

Fuel	Price per 200 litre drum
JET A1	VUV 12,857 (US$ 109.40)
AVGAS	VUV 50,522 (US$ 430.00)

Vanuatu - 2.2.1 Bauerfield International Airport

Airport Overview

Bauerfield International Airport is the largest airport in Vanuatu and serves as the hub for Vanuatu’s flag carrier airline, Air Vanuatu. The airport runway has the capability and length to accept jets up to the Airbus A330.

During busy season, the international departure area, which has about 300 seats, is usually crowded when two to three international flights depart simultaneously. Also, since there is only one baggage carrier belt in the International Arrivals area, it becomes very crowded when more than one international flight arrives at the same time. The Arrivals area currently has space for about 200 people.

Airport Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Port Vila, Efate Island, Shefa Province
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Airport	Port Vila 6.4 km
Airport’s Complete Name	Bauerfield International Airport
Latitude	-17.69917
Longitude	168.3197
Elevation (ft and m)	68 ft
IATA Code	VLI
ICAO Code	NVVV
Managing Company or Airport Authority	Airports Vanuatu Limited
Management Contact Person	Kevin Abel General Manager Operations P: +678 25111 M: +678 5547402 E: gmops@airports.vu W: www.airports.vu
Open From (hours)	First scheduled flight of the day
Open To (hours)	Last scheduled flight of the day

Airport Picture

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Customs Facility
Cargo Terminal
International Terminal
Domestic Terminal
Carpark
Fuel Facility
Air Vanuatu Hangar

Description and Contacts of Key Companies

Airports Vanuatu Limited (AVL): AVL is a public company and is the owner and operator of the Bauerfield 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.
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 Santo International Airport. Services includes ground handling, cargo handling and storage, aircraft engineering, freight forwarding and luggage storage for its 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

Bauerfield International Airport plays a vital role as the capital airport in Port Vila and the core of social and physical exchange in the country. The terminal area was developed by Japan’s grant aid in 1990. The existing terminal building was constructed with a capacity of 240,000 for both international and domestic passengers but the annual passenger volume increased to more than 480,000 in 2019. The number of flights has also increased, and the traffic demand has exceeded the capacity of the terminal facility.

Performance for 2019

	Per Year	Per Month	Per Day
Total Aircraft Movements	10,844	904	Varies
Total Passengers	489,416	40,785	Varies
Current Activity of the Airport (MT)	1,125
Current use by Humanitarian Flights (PHAS)	0

International flights are operated by Air Vanuatu, Virgin Australia, Fiji Airways, Solomon Airlines, Aircalin and Air Niugini. Small jet planes such as B737 and A320 are deployed and ATR-72 propeller-driven aircrafts are operated in neighbouring Noumea and Nadi.

Air cargo at Bauerfield International Airport in 2019 totalled 1,125 tons. The cargo terminal building is large enough to store air cargoes and has a refrigerating room and a monitor room for surveillance cameras. All export cargoes are inspected by an X-ray inspection machine, but import cargoes are not inspected.

Runways

The existing runway is 2,600m long and 45m wide. There are 7.5m wide shoulders on both sides of the runway; therefore, the total width of the runway with the shoulder is 60m. The widths meet ICAO recommendation for Code E class aircrafts such as A330. The pavement has been completely refurbished and reinforced to the strength that a Code E class aircraft can operate twice a week.

Runway
Runway Dimensions	2,600 m x 60 m
Orientation	Heading 11/29
Surface	Asphalt

Helicopter Pad(s)

There is one helipad parking spot at Bauerfield International Airport shared with fixed-wing parking space. There is ample grass space on the opposite side of the runway for helipad landings, if required.

Helipad
Present	Yes
Largest Helicopter that can land	No limit
Width and Length (m)	N/A
Surface	Asphalt or 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	N/A	Ground Handling Services	Yes
Control Tower	Yes	Latrine Servicing	Yes
Weather Facilities	Yes	Fire Fighting Category (ICAO)	7
Catering Services	Yes	De-icing Equipment	N/A
Base Operating Room	Yes	Parking Ramp Lighting	Yes
Airport Radar	No	Approach & Runway Lights	Yes
NDB	Yes	VOR	Yes
ILS	Yes

Airport Operating Details

Operating Details
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo	Boeing 737 or C-17 with weight restrictions
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet	Boeing 737
Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²)	Large jet aircraft – 1 spot Small jet aircraft – 2 spots Turboprop aircraft – 2 spots
Storage Area (m3 and MT)	1,000 m2
Handling Equipment
Elevators / Hi Loaders	Yes	Max Capacity (MT)	N/A
Elevators / Hi Loaders	Yes	Max Height (m)	N/A
Loading Ramps	Yes
Other Comments

Customs Guidance

Vanuatu Customs has officers stationed at the Bauerfield International Airport. The Customs Office at the airport 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.

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 Bauerfield International Airport

P: +678 23593

VoIP: 5007

E: customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu

Customs Air Cargo

P: +678 22566

VoIP: 5007

E: customsborder@vanuatu.gov.vu

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

Storage Facilities

Warehouse size of 1,000m2 contains a bonded warehouse, heated storage, air-conditioned storage, refrigerated storage, deep freeze, mortuary, animal quarantine, livestock handling, storage for dangerous goods, radioactive goods and large or heavy cargo and an express courier centre.

During TC Pam in 2015, a large 10m x 32m mobile storage unit was constructed in the carpark area. DHL, the cargo logistics handler at the airport, was contracted to manage this temporary warehouse. This was quite successful and should be considered for future large-scale emergencies.

Airfield Costs

NAVIGATION CHARGES

Charges	Aircraft Weight - MTOW (kg)
	0 – 20,000 kg	20,001 - 60,000 kg	Over 60,001 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	First 12 hours – Free 12 to 48 hours – 14% of standard landing fee per hour More than 48 hours – VUV 2,000 per day
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 a C-17, the request must be submitted a week in advance of fuel needs. AVL provides 44-gallon drums to store AVGAS and JET A1 fuels.

Refuelling services for aircrafts are only available in Port Vila and Espiritu Santo. All aircrafts must carry enough fuel to return to these locations to refuel.

	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
Mail	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
Mail	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 Bauerfield International Airport.

Security

Security issues are low at Bauerfield International Airport. The airport is fenced and has 24-hour security and camera surveillance.

Inside the international departure area, there is one lane at the airport security inspection area. For security reasons, it is prohibited to take photos, videos or make phone calls at the Customs and airport security inspection area.

Vanuatu - 2.2.2 Pekoa Airport

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 with Distance from Airport	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 E: gmops@airports.vu W: www.airports.vu
Open From (hours)	First scheduled flight of the day
Open To (hours)	Last scheduled flight of the day

Airport Picture

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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)
Elevators / Hi Loaders	Will be available by December 2023	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

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.

Contact details:

Customs Santo International Airport

P: +678 33781

VoIP: 6517 / 6518

E: customssanto@vanuatu.gov.vu

Customs Santo Post Office

P: +678 33780

VoIP: 6902

E: customssanto@vanuatu.gov.vu

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	First 12 hours – Free 12 to 48 hours – 14% of standard landing fee per hour More than 48 hours – VUV 2,000 per day
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
Mail	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
Mail	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.

Vanuatu - 2.2.3 Whitegrass Airport

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 Location and Contact
Country	Vanuatu
Province or District	Tanna Island, Tafea Province
Nearest Town or City with Distance from Airport	Lenakel 8 km
Airport’s Complete Name	Whitegrass Airport
Latitude	-19.45483
Longitude	169.22367
Elevation (ft and m)	27 ft
IATA Code	TAH
ICAO Code	NVVW
Managing Company or Airport Authority	Airports Vanuatu Limited
Management Contact Person	Kevin Abel Group Head Air Navigation Services P: +678 25111 ext. 125 M: +678 5547402 E: ghans@airports.vu W: www.airports.vu
Open From (hours)	0800 hours
Open To (hours)	1700 hours

Airport Picture

image-20231030091215-1

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

	Per Year	Per Month	Per Day
Total Aircraft Movements	468	39	Varies
Total Passengers	54,870	4,573	Varies
Current use by Humanitarian Flights (PHAS)	0

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

Runways

Runway
Runway Dimensions	1,230 m x 30 m
Orientation	15 / 33
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	No	JET A-1 fuel – for Twin Otter only	Yes
Immigration	No	AVGAS 100 – for BN-2 Islander	Yes
Terminal Building	Yes	Single Point Refuelling (using drums)	Yes
Passenger Terminal	Yes	Air Starter Units	No
Cargo terminal	Yes	Ground Power (mobile)	No
Pax Transport to Airfield	No	Ground Handling Services	Yes
Control Tower	Yes	Latrine Servicing	No
Weather Facilities	Yes	Fire Fighting Category (ICAO)	4
Catering Services	No	De-icing Equipment	N/A
Base Operating Room	Yes	Parking Ramp Lighting	Yes
Airport Radar	No	Approach & Runway Lights	Yes
Non-directional Beacons (NDB)	Yes	Very High Frequency Omni-Directional Range (VOR)	No
Instrument Landing System (ILS)	No

Airport Operating Details

Operating Details
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Bulk Cargo	ATR 72-600
Maximum Sized Aircraft that can be Offloaded on Pallet	ATR 72-600
Total Aircraft Parking Area (m²)	2 x ATR 72-600
Storage Area (m3 and MT)	Only for Air Vanuatu cargo – 4m x 3m room
Handling Equipment
Elevators / Hi Loaders	No	Max Capacity (MT)
Elevators / Hi Loaders	No	Max Height (m)
Loading Ramps	No
Other Comments

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

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.

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

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	First 12 hours – Free 12 to 48 hours – 14% of standard landing fee per hour More than 48 hours – VUV 2,000 per day
Handling Charges	Ground handling and border control services have their own fee schedule. For more details, please contact them directly.

FUEL SERVICES CHARGES

	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
Mail	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
Mail	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 Whitegrass Airport.

Security

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