3 Dec 2003

Solomon Airlines to lease PNG plane

12:09 pm on 3 December 2003

Solomon Airlines will lease a plane from Papua New Guinea to provide additional flights to ease the high demand for seats over the peak holiday period.

The chairman of Solomon Airlines, Michael Maina, says the airline cannot manage the huge number of passengers on its waiting lists.

More than sixty passengers were listed for future flights to the northwest Choiseul Province.

Mr Maina says the 36-seater plane would provide a service from Honiara to Munda, and a Solomon Airlines Twin Otter aircraft would make flights to other destinations in the Western Province.

He says once congestion has eased on western bound flights, the airline would provide additional services to Auki in Malaita province.

Mr Maina says the increased demand was brought about by the break down of shipping vessels.