Solomons - Solomon Airlines (IE, Honiara) has suspended all operations until further notice. The suspension applies to all domestic and international flights as well as airport ground-handling staff.
Airline Chief Executive Officer Ron Sum Sum told local media outlets that the Solomonian government's inability to pay what he termed "millions of dollars" worth of debts had severely hampered operations resulting in the grounding.
“This decision also affects services operated by us to our codeshare partners and services provided to all other airlines in our capacity as ground handling agents," he said. “I am confident the Solomon Islands’ Government will address the situation in a very short time."
The Permanent Secretary in the Solomonian Ministry of Communication and Aviation, Moses Virivolomo, said government had engaged the carrier in the hopes of having it resume flights as early as tomorrow.
Solomon Airlines operates one A320-200, four DHC-6-300s, and one Dash 8-100 (still at Cairns awaiting final payment for MRO checks undertaken earlier this year) on regular flights throughout the archipelago as well as to Fiji, Vanuatu, and Australia.
