25 Aug 2009

Concern over Solomons airport standard

12:08 pm on 25 August 2009

The Solomon Islands Aviation Ministry is concerned a lack of funds is affecting its ability to provide an internationally accepted standard of service to its operators.

The Ministry's Permanent Secretary, Jeffrey Wickham, says the government needs to recognise the importance of the work of the aviation department if it wants to boost tourism and investment in the country.

The control tower at the Honiara International Airport is long overdue for upgrading and renovation and Mr Wickham says the tarmac is also in dire need of repair.

The department has been rocked by allegations of mismanagement by former bosses and is struggling to recover by implementing face lifts to its domestic terminal and renovations to its international terminal.

Currently, the international terminal manages about five regionally-operated airlines that fly weekly into the country's capital, Honiara.