QANTAS & JETSTAR: Flying to Vanuatu from 10 September 2024

Qantas Group have announced the start of seat sales for their new nine return flights each week from Australia to Vanuatu.

The service commencing on Tuesday, 10 September will run across their full-service brand Qantas, and their low-cost brand, Jetstar. This will be a new route for Jetstar.

“Ahead of the arrival of our 13th A321neo LR next month and more new aircraft on the way, we’re continuing to grow our international network with the launch of low fares seats between Sydney and Port Vila.

Stephanie Tully, Jetstar Group CEO

Qantas will initially fly Brisbane to Port Villa, Vanuatu, three times per week, and could increase to five times per week depending on demand. Jetstar won’t start flying between Sydney and Port Vila until 12 December 2024. Both services are subject to regulatory approval.

“We’ve long served Vanuatu through our codeshare partnership and this new route ensures our customers have more choice and consistent service to the island destination we know they enjoy.”

Cam Wallace, Qantas International CEO

The Aircraft

Qantas flights will deploy Boeing 737 aircraft with two classes. Busines class cabin has 12 seats in a 2-2 configuration, 22″ wide and 37″ pitch. Economy cabin runs to 162 seats in a 3-3 configuration with a seat width of 17.2″ and a 30″ pitch.

Jetstar will use its new 232-seat Airbus A321neo LRs to service the route. These have a 3-3 configuration with All Recaro BL37010 seats, which are 45.7cm (18in) wide with an average seat pitch of 73.7cm (29in) – so tight!

So on Qantas, you get a narrower seat but an inch more pitch. On Jetstar, nearly an inch more width but an inch less legroom.

Flights & Fares

You can book fares out of Brisbane on Qantas now on their website, and Jetstar tickets are available through travel agents.

• QF159 leaves Brisbane at 10:50 am, arrives Port Vila at 14:35 (Tues, Fri, Sun) Flight time is 2h 45m
• QF160 leaves Port Vila at 3:40 pm, arrives Brisbane at 5:45 pm (Tues, Fri, Sun) Flight time is 3h 05m

Jetstar has not yet loaded its flights.

Fares on Qantas range from AU$787 in economy on a sale fare to AU$2,112 business on a saver fare in September. Expect fares to vary according to season.

2PAXfly Takeout

Air Vanuatu collapsed recently, so these services from Qantas Jetstar and Virgin have swooped in to fill the gap. Vanuatu is a spectacular location for everything from active volcanoes, indigenous culture, flop and drop, adventure, and marine life. I only visited once, back in 2013, for a Christmas break. It was very relaxing.

Depending on your date of travel, the most difficult choice you will need to make is whether to choose Qantas or Jetstar. A Qantas flight out of Brisbane would mean an early flight out of Sydney or an overnight stopover. The same would be true if travelling from other East Coast capital cities.

Virgin Australia also flies to Port Vila from Brisbane at similar times.