5 Jul 2006

Solomons considers open sky policy

9:35 am on 5 July 2006

The Solomon Islands government is to seriously consider an open sky policy in an attempt to reduce the costs of air travel.

The prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, told SIBC, that the policy is one of the many options that the government wants to look at.

He says currently Solomon Islands has one of the most expensive air travel costs in the world.

Mr Sogavare quoted an example about the cost of a three-hour flight from Honiara to Brisbane being equivalent to the cost of travelling Brisbane to Heathrow, London and back.

The prime minister says the government needs to come up with new policy initiatives which will open up the aviation and airline industry for competition in order to bring down costs and promote the tourism industry.