6 Nov 2014

Breakdown in talks on Solomons/Fiji air services

4:10 pm on 6 November 2014

The impasse between Solomon Islands and Fiji over air service agreements continues after this week's breakdown of talks in Suva.

A Fiji Airways plane

A Fiji Airways plane Photo: Supplied

There have been no direct flights between Honiara and Suva since July and talks were held between the two sides to overcome the differences.

A joint statement was prepared on Tuesday and Fiji's Department of Information sent out a media announcement of the proposed signing only to cancel it hours later.

Sources close to the negotiations say the Solomon Islands government's outright rejection of the communiqué led to the indefinite suspension of the talks.

The impasse started after Fiji, responding to Solomon Islands rejecting its request for an additional flight into Honiara, cancelled all Solomon Airlines flights to Nadi, following which Solomon Airlines promptly cancelled all flights from Fiji.

Earlier, Solomon Airlines had expressed hope the impasse would be resolved to allow it to fly the Solomon Island students home from the University of the South Pacific in Suva for the holidays.