The Board is delighted to welcome Mr Philippe Busson as the airline's new Chief Executive Officer. Mr Busson brings 28 years of aviation leadership experience, having held senior roles across aircraft and engine manufacturers, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) organisations, lessors and airlines. His expertise lies in global strategy and operations management.
He most recently served as Chief Strategy & Operating Officer for two New Caledonia-based airlines. Between these roles, he spent more than five years as an aviation consultant at IDEAL Consulting, advising airlines across Asia and the South Pacific on start-up projects, fleet management and organisational optimisation.
Mr Busson also sits on the Executive Board of the Association of South Pacific Airlines, where he supports collaboration and synergy among carriers across the region. He holds a Master's in Engineering from INSA Lyon, completed in partnership with MIT, and is a family man with three children.
“We are very pleased to welcome Phil to Air Vanuatu at this important moment in the airline’s recovery,” said Chairman Captain Robin Deamer. “His depth of regional and international aviation experience, his strategic and operational expertise, and his strong ties to the South Pacific make him exceptionally well suited to lead Air Vanuatu into its next chapter. The Board looks forward to working closely with him as we continue to rebuild a safe, reliable and sustainable national carrier that serves the people of Vanuatu and connects our islands to the world.”
Mr Busson’s appointment follows a recruitment process conducted by the Board in line with its governance obligations. He is expected to arrive in Port Vila and take up the role on 01 August 2026, and will work closely with the Board, the management team and staff to deliver on the airline’s strategic priorities of safety, reliability and financial sustainability.
Source: Air Vanuatu