Tourism is Vanuatu’s largest industry. Air Vanuatu is the national carrier. As a small-scale and Government-owned international airline, it faces substantial competitive and financial pressures, and a high degree of exposure to external shocks. Despite these challenges, the airline has shown growth and returned a positive operating result in recent years. Air Vanuatu also provides a vital domestic service connecting Vanuatu’s many isolated island communities.
Looking to the future, the Government is interested to explore options to expand Vanuatus air connectivity and boost tourism. This includes considering different airline ownership structures, partnerships or other operating models that may enable it to increase connectivity and access a greater share of the tourism market, whilst controlling the level of Governments direct and indirect exposure.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is providing advisory services to the Government of Vanuatu on these issues. IFC is seeking to engage a qualified aviation consultant to support this work.
The objective of the assignment is to prepare a strategic options report that will guide Government consideration of how it may choose to structure Vanuatu’s future aviation arrangements. Whilst primarily focused on how to underpin and grow the tourism sector, the report will consider both international and domestic aviation needs.
Air Network Research Institute 