Air Vanuatu (NF, Port Vila) expects to take delivery of a fifth DHC-6-300 by the end of July 2026, delayed from an earlier March delivery target, deputy prime minister and finance minister Johnny Koanapo said, according to the Daily Post newspaper.

The government purchased the two aircraft from a US-based company for VUV540 million vatu (USD4.5 million) each. It will retain ownership and lease them to Air Vanuatu, according to an earlier government press release. The first unit, YJ-AV15 (msn 481), arrived in Vanuatu in January.

Koanapo said the incoming aircraft would also serve recently opened Lopeni airport. The government plans further domestic fleet expansion alongside an airport rehabilitation programme.

Aside from Air Vanuatu's four DHC-6-300s, it also operates a single ATR72-600, according to ch-aviation data. The government had previously indicated plans to add another Twin Otter and an ATR42 by 2030.

Air Vanuatu was placed into liquidation in mid-2024 and has since been rebuilding its network, which now spans 17 destinations across the country.