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Qantas is again offering its customers the option of booking a codeshare flight to Vanuatu.
However, the airline is only adding its QF airline code on Air Vanuatu’s twice-weekly Brisbane-Santo (Luganville) service from June 6.
“We’re pleased to announce the recommencement of our codeshare on Air Vanuatu services between Brisbane and Santo,” Qantas said in a June 3 note to travel agents.
Qantas stopped codesharing on Air Vanuatu’s Brisbane-Port Vila and Sydney-Port Vila flights in January over concerns with the condition of the runway at Bauerfield Airport.
Virgin Australia and Air New Zealand were also prompted to withdraw their services because of the state of the runway.
While Virgin resumed flights in May, following emergency repair work on the runway and its own safety assessment, Air NZ has continued to stay away from Port Vila.
Qantas has said previously it would not codeshare on any Air Vanuatu flight until it was satisfied it was safe to operate into and out of Bauerfield Airport.
“Qantas needs to be absolutely confident in the condition of the runway at Bauerfield International Airport (Port Vila) before we would reinstate our codeshare with Air Vanuatu,” Qantas said in April.
“This means being wholly satisfied that the interim repairs, once completed, are sufficient and that plans for a permanent fix in the near future are fully confirmed and meet international standards.”
Ben
says:Strange as that flight heads to port villa after stopping in luganville
Bryan
says:Exactly makes no sense at all
Mick
says:I guess what they’re saying is that QF code will only be BNE-SON, but not SON-VLI, which will only carry the NF code. Therefore you can’t buy a QF ticket into VLI or earn points etc. At least it gets you into the country, but not the capital.
Andrew
says:This is discriminating against regular QF pax and those loyal to QF codes on that route. The runway is totally safe now. I have lost so many credits because of this I will lose my QFFF status this year. Surely QF could work out an arrangement with those regular pax on this route. No lounge access for QFF Platinum members etc as well.