AUCKLAND, New Zealand -- Air New Zealand, Qantas and Virgin Australia have abruptly suspended ticket sales to Vanuatu because of concerns that the Pacific island nation's main international airport is quite literally falling apart.
Vanuatu was hit last March by Cyclone Pam, which killed 11 people and extensively damaged infrastructure. Heavy traffic by military and aid organization charter flights damaged the already poorly-maintained Bauerfield Airport runway at Port Vila, which led to the airlines' decision on Jan. 22.
