“While we sincerely regret the inconvenience to our passengers, the matter is simple. Landowners have advised us to suspend services until an ongoing local landowners disagreement can be settled,” said CEO of Solomon Airlines Mr Brett Gebers. “While we appreciate that there may be local issues yet to be resolved and which are outside of our control, we have an obligation to all who rely upon our scheduled flights across the Solomon Islands,”
Gebers went on to say: “Airlines cannot easily start and restart flights and airstrip operations on a whim. Behind the scenes, managing flight operations to regional areas is a significant activity which requires scheduling aircraft and equipment, fuel supplies, rostering of crew, management of passenger and cargo booking processes,”
The carrier is set to operate a special flight to Brisbane, Australia from Tarawa on May 23rd.
According to ch-aviation.com plans by Chinese authorities to support the rebuilding and refurbishment of a number of airstrips in the Solomon Islands has come to a halt. The deal would have seen the island’s government purchase six new planes from the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC). Included in the plan was to develop Honiara – Solomon Island’s capital into a major regional hub, with daily direct flights to China, according to a leaked memorandum of understanding agreed in 2019 signed by Solomon Islands Minister for Communication and Aviation Peter Shanel Agovaka whilst on a special trip to central China.
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