A new international carrier SkyAirWorld will start operating a weekly service into Honiara from Brisbane Australia in March.
Chief Executive Officer of the airline, David Charlton, told local media that the company will operate a 94-seater Embraer jet with an initial five flights a week into Honiara from Brisbane and back.The company plans to extend its service into Munda, Western Province once the current airstrip is upgraded to cater for international flights.
It's been reported that the inaugural flight into Honiara will take place on March 3rd.
Mr. Charlton told local media that the airline is currently engaged in infrastructure development to accommodate servicing of its aircraft here and expects to provide employment for the locals.
He said the company's long association with Solomon Islands has given them the confidence in operating an international air service into Solomon Islands.
Mr. Charlton said after having operated for a short time "on behalf of somebody else, we learnt that we like the Solomon Islands a lot".
The new airline's CEO said that there's a huge opportunity in tourism in the Solomons "... and we'd like to be part of that".
Mr. Charlton expressed the company's desire to "work with the people of Solomon Islands" despite some previous challenges.
"We've always received a warm welcome and we feel at home here," the SkyAirWorld CEO said.
He emphasised the importance of the need for everyone to cooperate for the service to succeed.