‘We’re desperate’: Aussies caught up in airline collapse before wedding

An Aussie bride getting married next weekend says she is an “emotional wreck” after the collapse of another airline left guests without a way to the nuptials.

An Australian bride getting married next weekend in Vanuatu says she is an “emotional wreck” after the collapse of Air Vanuatu threw her dream destination wedding into chaos, leaving guests without a way to the nuptials.

It comes as Virgin Australia tells news.com.au it will increase its flights to Port Vila at the request of the Australian government.

Air Vanuatu was placed into voluntary liquidation, with liquidators from Ernest & Young Australia taking control of the business on Friday.

All flights have been grounded and the government-owned airline has said it is not able to arrange alternative flights for passengers.

On Thursday, the airline had cancelled all its flights to and from Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland to at least Sunday, with flights after this date under review.

Brisbane and Sydney airports told customers not to come to the airport.

It is the second airline to collapse within a fortnight, following Australian airline Bonza, which was less than 18 months after launching its first flights.

Shane and Emma are getting married in Vanuatu next weekend. Picture: A Current Affair

Emma, who is getting married to her fiance Shane in Vanuatu next weekend, told A Current Affair their best man and maid of honour no longer have flights for the wedding.

“We’ve got 19 of our wedding guests that have been affected by this, so 19 people out of 41 attendees,” Emma said.

She said she was an “emotional wreck” over the bad news.

“I haven’t stopped crying. I’m so upset,” she said. “We’re trying anything we can and we’re just so desperate.”

The Sunshine Coast couple said they were able to book another flight for their daughter to be there, but hadn’t had luck since due to the demand.

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Air Vanuatu has been placed into voluntary liquidation. Picture: istock

Virgin Australia told news.com.au on Friday it would fly an additional two flights per week from Brisbane to Port Vila, and consider also increasing seat capacity.

“We are saddened to learn of Air Vanuatu being placed into liquidation today,” a spokesperson said.

“We can confirm that at the request of the Australian Government to lift capacity, Virgin Australia will increase the number of services between Brisbane and Vanuatu by two flights per week to five per week for the remainder of May and June.”

Those extra flights went on sale Friday afternoon and take off on Sunday. It means, from Monday, the airline will operate five regular flights per week on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

“Virgin Australia has simultaneously applied to the International Air Services Commission to increase our allocation of seat capacity between Australia and Vanuatu, with plans to quickly commence a further seven weekly services from east coast gateways into Vanuatu, supporting continued connectivity with our Pacific neighbours,” the spokesperson added.

Virgin Australia will increase its flights to Vanuatu from Sunday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicholas Eagar

Qantas, which does not operate flights into Vanuatu but has a codeshare partnership with Air Vanuatu, said it was supporting codeshare customers who were impacted.

Qantas customers who are booked on an Air Vanuatu flight between now and May 31 are instructed to call Qantas or their travel agent to discuss options including refunds or a flight credit.

The Australian carrier said it would book customers who are mid-journey onto alternative flights.

Air Vanuatu liquidators said they intend to resume normal trading as soon as possible, “while considering all opportunities to place the carrier on a stronger footing”.