PORT VILA, Vanuatu (January 7, 2001 - Vanuatu Trading Post/PINA Nius Online)---Vanuatu's domestic airline, Vanair, will be merged into the international carrier, Air Vanuatu, creating one airline, Prime Minister Barak Sope said.
He told Vanuatu Trading Post publisher Marc Neil-Jones in an interview: "We are thinking of a March 31st date for a merger of the two airlines after we have examined the assets and debts of the two companies.
"Air Vanuatu management will run Vanair."
He said Air Vanuatu's management will also negotiate a "new deal" with the Canadian aircraft manufacturer Bombadier over its provision of a Dash 8 aircraft to Vanair.
"Bombadier is still demanding money from us and that is the most urgent problem," he said.
"We need to find about 190 million vatu (US$ 1,347,709) to pay them.
"I have asked the Ombudsman to investigate the contract signed by the coordinator of the Vanuaaku Pati, Willy Reuben Abel, because if you look at...