Air Vanuatu's sole 737 'grounded'

[AnotherFSO]

FWIW, Flight Global is reporting that "Air Vanuatu has cancelled flights to Australia and New Zealand after mechanical issues forced the grounding of its sole Boeing 737-800."

[pbwhi0]

Yep, we are booked to fly on this aircraft on Tuesday 11 April 2023. The Air Vanuatu website is indicating it would be Tuesday 11 April at the earliest that the aircraft is back in the air.

Our only viable option is to book a flight on Monday with Virgin (accomodation cannnot be changed). But if the Air Vanuatu 737 is back on Tuesday that would be our preferred solution.

Does any one have any inside information on the repair and when it is likely the aircraft will be cleared to line?

Our travel agent is following up but info is sketchy at best.

Thanks

[TBM-Legend]

Aircraft parked at Nauru Airlines facilities BNE

[kitchen bench]

Originally Posted by TBM-Legend

Aircraft parked at Nauru Airlines facilities BNE

And, according to FR24, Nauru Airlines has done some Vila flying using the Air Vanuatu call sign. It appears they’ve got a replacement aircraft in place until theirs returns.

Latest update on their website specifically shows Tuesday’s Brisbane to Vila flight operating so, pbwhi0, I reckon you’ll be travelling as planned.

[V-Jet]

Does anyone know why Air Van is constantly cancelling flights? General incompetence, lack of cash - any ideas?

[nomess]

737 had a 4 week check in Jan which has blown out to 12 weeks. Got caught out as Nauru who was covering some of it already had Bonza work tied up for a few months when that ended. Solomon has been covering.

Solomon A320 now broken in Melbourne.

[V-Jet]

They seem to have a major problem getting 737 work done. Maggots grow on trees in these parts - it’s a rolling disaster for tourism there. There are undiscovered tribes in the Amazon that would have 737 supplies! Apparently it’s grounded until April. Be great airline to work for, only two VLI-SYD-VLI and VLI-MEL-VLI trips a year!!

[deja vu]

Originally Posted by V-Jet

Does anyone know why Air Van is constantly cancelling flights? General incompetence, lack of cash - any ideas?

One sole lone aircraft would be the first clue.

[blubak]

Originally Posted by deja vu

One sole lone aircraft would be the first clue.

I was told a few days ago that when the fan blades were removed the engine inlet covers were not fitted & this has caused a lot of damage.
Apparently this task is a must do on the CFM56 fitted to the 738 & on this check, it wasnt done.

[V-Jet]

Interesting. One jet certainly doesn’t help but it’s not the only answer, Avoidable maintenance errors don’t help!

[tail wheel]

The original concept of Air Pacific was that it would become the Pacific airline. I think Qantas, British Airways, Fiji Government were major shareholders but each of the small island groups owned a small share.

National pride eventually got in the way of ultimately having a unified Pacific airline.

[nivsy]

In happier times ....

[markis10]

Originally Posted by tail wheel

The original concept of Air Pacific was that it would become the Pacific airline. I think Qantas, British Airways, Fiji Government were major shareholders but each of the small island groups owned a small share.

National pride eventually got in the way of ultimately having a unified Pacific airline.

Still quite a few countries in the Air Pacific Pie which is the overall entity sitting on top of Fiji Air: “Fijian government (51%), the Australian flag-carrier Qantas (46.32%), and Air New Zealand and the governments of Kiribati, Tonga, Nauru and Samoa each hold minor stakes”