Air Vanuatu (NF, Port Vila) has been wet-leasing ATR72-600 capacity from Air Calédonie (TY, Nouméa Magenta) since mid-October, according to a report by French broadcaster La Première. The New Caledonian carrier is reportedly providing aircraft and crew on weekdays.
ADS-B data indicates that two of Air Calédonie's ATR72-600s, F-OZIP (msn 1355) and F-OZLI (msn 1380), have been alternating on domestic routes within Vanuatu since October 13. Operating under Air Vanuatu's “NF” code, the aircraft have primarily flown between Port Vila, Espiritu Santo, and Tanna.
In August, Air Vanuatu was reportedly seeking temporary capacity from other operators, including Air Calédonie, to cover for its own ATR72-600, YJ-AV73 (msn 1358), which has been grounded since that time due to engine maintenance issues.
The global shortage of the ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprop's Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines has reportedly exacerbated the issue, Air Vanuatu chief executive Joseph Laloyer said at that time.
The Vanuatu government in early September approved around VUV300 million vatus (USD2.5 million) in funding to repair the ATR72-600 and one of the carrier's three DHC-6-300s. An engine was reportedly shipped from Canada around that time, but no further updates have been disclosed.
ch-aviation has reached out to both airlines for comment.
