Air Vanuatu (NF, Port Vila) is considering acquiring ATR42s as part of its fleet renewal and upgrade plans. Under Prime Minister Charlot Salwai's "Shared Vision 2030" initiative for the South Pacific island's aviation and tourism sectors, the state-owned carrier is looking to operate a total of 13 aircraft by 2030.
According to The Daily Post, airline chief executive Derek Nice told Buzz 96FM radio that Air Vanuatu's fleet would likely entail eight "large" aircraft for international routes. For domestic routes, five Cessna (single turboprop) 208EX Grand Caravans may also be acquired in order to replace the airline's current fleet of one BN-2 and three DHC-6-300s.
Nice did not specify how many ATR42s would be acquired.
In November 2018, Air Vanuatu was linked to a pair of E190s. However, it never officially confirmed their acquisition.
The airline also operates one B737-800, one ATR72-600, and one ATR72-500 on scheduled flights throughout Vanuatu as well as to Auckland International in New Zealand, Brisbane International and Sydney Kingsford Smith in Australia, Nouméa La Tontouta in New Caledonia, and Suva in Fiji.
