2 Jul 2004

Solomon Airlines to restart flights to Malaita airfield

10:52 am on 2 July 2004

Solomon Airlines will resume its flight to Gwaunaru'u airfield near Auki on Malaita this afternoon.

The Gwaunaru'u airfield has been closed for almost a month by landowners who were not happy about government's non-payment of land rents.

Acting General Manager of the Airline, Michael Maina, says the re-opening of the airfield followed a request by the Board of Directors' for landowners to realise the importance of an air service to and from Auki.

The service includes transporting sick patients, business people, government officials as well as the ordinary travelling public.

A 40 seater Dash-8 aircraft will be used on the route, with the first flight taking place at 4pm.

The Airlines Reservation Manager, Paul Alafa, says the Airline will be making a daily flight using the Dash-8 aircraft, instead of two flights a day as in the past, using smaller planes.