Air Vanuatu, one of the regions main airlines has filed for voluntary receivership. Problems started becoming so evident last week as the airlines flights from Sydney and Brisbane and Auckland were cancelled.
It comes amid reports an administrator has been appointed.
Brisbane Airport said it was aware flights had been cancelled on Thursday and Friday, and has warned passengers scheduled to fly with the airline that they should not travel to the airport.
Local newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post says it was informed the Air Vanuatu board has been dissolved and an administrator was appointed on May 6.
The publication said the news followed a former minister of infrastructure and public utilities reporting last month that Air Vanuatu is facing “a serious situation of bankruptcy”.
The airline’s website lists the cancelled services under its “flight schedule changes” page.
“Due to extended maintenance requirements on our aircraft the following services listed below are impacted,” it claims. “We are working with our partner carriers to minimise the disruption to our guests.”
The Vanuatu Tourism Office said in a statement it is aware of reports that its national carrier has entered voluntary administration and called it an “evolving situation”.
“At this stage, we are unable to share further information but are in contact with Air Vanuatu and the Vanuatu government and will share updates as they become available,” a spokesperson said.
“We are conscious of the impact this situation has on travelers, ticket holders and the industry and on behalf of the Vanuatu tourism industry extend our apologies to anyone affected.”
It comes just days after the collapse of Australian airline Bonza, less than 18 months after launching its first flights.
Almost 60,000 Bonza customers have been left out of pocket following the collapse, a court has heard.
A court heard on Tuesday that the company had more than 60,000 creditors – including 323 employees who were owed wages and annual leave and 120 trade creditors. There were a further 57,933 customers who had bookings with the company, barrister James Hutton SC, who is acting for the administrators, told the Federal Court on Tuesday morning.
