Solomon Airlines revised domestic schedule meets short break demand and reduces airport congestion

• New Monday and Friday services to Kagau introduced

Solomon Airlines has announced changes to the airline’s domestic flight schedule to support the company’s expanding domestic tourism focus, preserve operational flexibility, and to ensure less congestion at Henderson and Gizo Nusatupe Airports.

Under the schedule, which comes into effect from Sunday 25th October, changes include more comfortable connection times in Gizo and increased access for Kagau with the introduction of an extra weekly service. Flights from Honiara to Kagau via Suavanao will now operate on Mondays and Fridays to accommodate the weekend traveller market.

On Mondays, flight IE380 departs Honiara 12.00pm, arriving in Suavanao 1.00pm, re-departing at 1.15pm to land in Kagau at 1.50pm. Flight IE381 then returns to Honiara, departing at 2.05pm, arriving 3.25pm.

On Fridays, flight IE380 departs Honiara at 9.45am, arriving in Suavanao 10.45am, re-departing at 11.00am, to arrive in Kagau 11.35am. Flight IE381 then returns to Honiara at 11.50am, landing at 1.10pm.

Colin Sigimanu Commercial Manager for Solomon Airlines said the schedule adjustments are designed with customer preferences in mind.

“We are continuing to work with local tourism operators and to respond to growing demand for weekend travel opportunities for destinations like Kagau and Fera,” he said.

“To date, we have successfully introduced our discounted Helpful Holidays packages to five domestic destinations including Gizo, Munda, Seghe, Suavanao, and Marau and we are continuing to maintain schedules which especially support long weekend escapes.

“Now Kagau is also in focus with a Monday and Friday service via Suavanao, instead of a single Tuesday service previously,” he said.

Solomon Airlines has also adjusted early morning departures from Honiara, spacing flights to avoid congestion at the check-in counters.

“We have made the current changes with our duty of care in mind, as we are mindful of social distancing at the airport,” Mr Sigimanu said.

Solomon Airlines continues to operate a Monday to Friday schedule to all 23 of the airline’s domestic destinations.  Currently, no flights operate on Saturdays and Sundays however the airline continues to provide operational flexibility for special charters, recovery flights, and supplementary services, should they be required.

View the latest domestic schedule effective from 25 October 2020 here

Previous domestic schedule update until 24 October here