NATIONAL carrier Solomon Airlines has released a new international schedule which will become effective from 16 September 2024.
This new schedule will improve connections between Solomon Islands and key international destinations, to better meet demand from leisure and business travelers, Solomon Airlines said in a statement yesterday.
The airline said the changes, including adjusted flight days to the Munda International Airport, are based on passenger and industry feedback and are designed to improve inbound tourism opportunities to Solomon Islands via both Honiara and Munda to create better connectivity across the Solomon Airlines growing Pacific region network.
Solomon Airlines normally operates the Brisbane to Munda route on Saturdays. Next month it would operate the service on Fridays.
Highlights of the new schedule include:
Munda Services
Following consultation with Tourism Stakeholders, Solomon Airlines has changed its day of Munda operations from Saturday to Friday to streamline travel for returning Munda tourists.
Under the new schedule tourists returning from Munda to Australia will be able to fly back on a single aircraft, boarding in Munda and flying via Honiara to the Brisbane gateway.
Solomon Airlines is looking forward to further collaboration with tourism operators in Western Province as the carrier and industry work together to build tourism traffic via the Munda, a tourist gateway for Solomon Islands.
Under the new schedule, international services to Munda will operate as follows:
Brisbane to Munda direct flights will operate every Friday.
Flight IE 715 will depart Brisbane at 8:30am arriving in Munda at 1:30pm
The Friday return flight will redepart Munda as Flight IE715 at 2:30pm arriving Honiara at 3:20pm connecting with Flight IE 700 departing Honiara at 4:20pm arriving in Brisbane at 6:35pm
Auckland Services
Flight days for Honiara-Vila- Auckland services will also change to enable greater same day connectivity to and from domestic destinations throughout New Zealand.
Honiara-Vila-Auckland services will operate on Fridays
Flight IE 722 will depart Honiara at 07:15am arriving Vila at 9:15am
Flight 710 will depart Vila at 10.15am arriving Auckland 2.30pm in time for many domestic connections
Auckland -Vila- Honiara services will operate on Saturdays
Flight IE 711 will depart Auckland at 8:35am arriving Vila at 10.50am
Flight IE723 will depart Vila at 11:50am arriving Honiara at 1.50pm
Honiara – Santo – Vila – Auckland services will operate on Mondays
Flight IE 722 depart Honiara 07:15am arrive Santo 08:55am, redepart Santo 09:45am arrive Vila 10:30am
Flight IE 710 depart Vila 11:30 arrive Auckland 15:45pm
Auckland – Vila – Santo – Honiara services will operate on Tuesdays
Flight IE 711 depart Auckland 08:35am arrive Vila 10:50am
Flight IE 723 depart Vila 11:50am arrive Santo 12:35pm
Flight IE 723 depart Santo 13:25pm arrive Honiara 15:05pm
Santo Services
The network-wide schedule adjustments also allow Solomon Airlines to streamline the airline’s Vanuatu schedule including convenient flights from three countries to Espiritu Santo from next month.
Solomon Airlines will offer flights from Honiara, Brisbane, and Auckland to Santo as follows:
Thursday – Brisbane-Santo-Vila-Brisbane
Flight IE 726 depart Brisbane at 09:00am arrive Santo 12:50pm
Flight IE726 depart Santo 13:50pm arrive Vila at 14:35pm
Flight IE 718 depart Vila 15:35pm arrive Brisbane 17:40pm
*Disruption to existing passenger bookings is expected to be minimal, and Solomon Airlines is enedeavouring to contact all passengers who may be impacted.
