What are the Flight Times to Vanuatu?

Vanuatu sits in the heart of the South Pacific, and one of the most convenient ways to get there is by connecting through regional hubs like Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, or New Caledonia. Travellers from these countries can fly directly into Port Vila (VLI) or Espiritu Santo (SON), with some routes requiring short regional connections.

Here are the average flight times to Vanuatu from key locations:

• Auckland to Port Vila: 3 hrs 40 mins
• Sydney to Port Vila: 3 hrs 5 mins
• Brisbane to Port Vila: 2 hrs 45 mins
• Nadi to Port Vila: 2 hrs 10 mins
• Nouméa to Port Vila: 1 hr 45 mins
• Brisbane to Espiritu Santo: 3 hrs 30 mins

Learn more about flight options in Which Airlines Fly Directly to Vanuatu?

Travellers from North and South America usually need one or two stopovers to reach Vanuatu, most commonly through Australia, New Zealand, or Fiji. Currently, there are no direct flights from the U.S. or South America into Vanuatu, so connections through major hubs like Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, or Nadi are the most efficient way to reach the islands.

Some of the best airports to depart from for faster connections include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Vancouver, and Santiago. Depending on your route, connections are typically made in Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, or Nadi.

Note: Flight durations listed below do not include layover times.

• Los Angeles to Port Vila: 16-18 hrs via Sydney/Brisbane
• San Francisco to Port Vila: 15-17 hrs via Sydney/Brisbane
• Houston to Port Vila: 18-20 hrs via Auckland or Sydney
• Vancouver to Port Vila: 18-19 hrs via Auckland or Sydney
• Chicago to Port Vila: 17-19 hrs via Sydney or Auckland
• Santiago to Port Vila: 20-22 hrs via Auckland and Nadi

These routes give travellers a practical overview of what to expect when flying to Vanuatu from the Americas.

There are currently no direct flights from Asia to Vanuatu, so travellers should expect one or two stopovers, typically through Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland, or Nadi. Most flights from Asia connect first to a major hub in the Pacific, then continue on a regional flight to Port Vila (VLI) or Espiritu Santo (SON).

The flight times below are from popular Asian airports and do not include layover durations:

• Singapore to Port Vila: 14-16 hrs via Nadi and Sydney/Brisbane
• Hong Kong to Port Vila: 14-16 hrs via Nadi and Sydney/Brisbane
• Bangkok to Port Vila: 16-18 hrs via Sydney and Nadi
• Tokyo to Port Vila: 13-15 hrs via Nadi and Brisbane/Auckland
• Manila to Port Vila: 15-17 hrs via Brisbane or Sydney
• Mumbai to Port Vila: 20-22 hrs via Singapore and Sydney/Brisbane

Travelling from Europe to Vanuatu requires at least two connections, usually routing through Asia or Australia, then on to a major Pacific hub like Sydney, Brisbane, or Auckland, before the final leg to Port Vila (VLI) or Espiritu Santo (SON). While it’s a long journey, the reward is a stunning South Pacific paradise at the end of your flight path.

Here are estimated flight times from major European cities to Vanuatu (excluding layovers):

• London to Port Vila: 24-26 hrs via Singapore and Sydney/Brisbane
• Frankfurt to Port Vila: 25-27 hrs via Hong Kong and Sydney
• Amsterdam to Port Vila: 23-25 hrs via Sydney or Auckland
• Dublin to Port Vila: 24-26 hrs via Brisbane and Sydney
• Zurich to Port Vila: 25-27 hrs via Singapore and Brisbane
• Copenhagen to Port Vila: 24-26 hrs via Bangkok and Sydney
• Oslo to Port Vila: 24-26 hrs via Doha and Sydney