News
[Policy News | Issue 22] Vanuatu Government Clarifies: Airspace Control Remains Domestic, Fiji Only Provides Technical Management!
[Voice of the South Pacific Report] Vanuatu’s civil aviation authority recently issued a public clarification regarding rumors that the country's airspace is controlled by foreign nations.
Officials stated that Fiji does not hold sovereignty over Vanuatu's airspace. Due to Vanuatu's current lack of technical infrastructure for high-altitude air traffic control, Fiji has been delegated to handle the communication and management of transiting aircraft.
Vanuatu's VRTC website reported on the 30th that this explanation was presented during a public parliamentary hearing on economic and foreign policy. Previously, public questions had arisen regarding the sovereignty of Vanuatu's airspace and the distribution of revenue from transiting aircraft.
Wilfred Makaba, Flight Operations Manager of the Civil Aviation Authority, pointed out that there is a public misconception regarding Fiji's role in Vanuatu's airspace. "The airspace belongs entirely to Vanuatu, and Fiji is only responsible for controlling flights transiting through the region.
"Claims on social media about other countries taking over our airspace are completely untrue. Given that we do not currently have the capacity to safely provide high-altitude air traffic management services, Fiji has assumed the communication liaison functions with transiting aircraft on our behalf."
Hearing records show that through a revenue-sharing mechanism with Airports Fiji Limited, Vanuatu receives approximately 30 million Vatu (equivalent to USD 246,900) annually from air traffic management services.
Xavier Harry, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Utilities, explained that under an agreement reached a decade ago, Vanuatu, Kiribati, and Tuvalu each receive a 2.5% share of the revenue.
He stated that the government is currently evaluating the fairness of the agreement. "This percentage was determined ten years ago. Since this administration took office, we have been collaborating with the Civil Aviation Authority and Air Vanuatu to review whether the current share reflects the actual value of our airspace. Raising our revenue share in the future would help secure funding to invest in the domestic infrastructure needed to manage our airspace independently."
Air Navigation Services Manager Pelensy Lulu confirmed that Airports Fiji Limited does regularly remit the agreed share of revenue to the Vanuatu government, and relevant departments have now established a special committee to audit the specific financial figures and cooperative arrangements.
Government officials emphasized that follow-up consultations between Vanuatu and Fiji remain ongoing. Vanuatu is evaluating investment plans for future independent management of its high-altitude airspace, while also actively seeking to increase its share of airspace revenue.