Solomon Airlines has announced that flights to Gizo in the Western Province will recommence on September 22 following the scheduled completion of work on the Nusatupe airstrip.
Nusatape has been closed since May to allow for upgrading and tar sealing of the runway.
Groundwork was initially scheduled to be completed by the end of next week (September 9) but has been delayed for various reasons according to the contractor.
Solomon Airlines General Manager Commercial and Operations, Gus Kraus, says flights will now resume on Sunday September 22 after contractors in their latest update, gave their assurance that all work will be completed by September 16. The Airline has set aside an extra few days before resuming flights as contingency in case of weather delays.
Kraus says the upgrade will benefit the public with safer and more efficient travel for the country’s busiest destination.
“The tar sealing of the Gizo airstrip will mean flights will no longer be subject to weather delays unless of course the weather is on the tree tops wherein visual capabilities are impaired.”
Kraus thanked the travelling public for their understanding over the past four months with Gizo passengers using Munda as their arrival and departure point and he also thanked boat operators for providing transfers by sea between the two ports.
Solomon Airlines would further like to thank the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and tourism stakeholders for their support in working with the Airline to assist passengers during the closure of Nusatupe.
Lastly the airline said, a big thank you to the contractors and the New Zealand Government for their part in the upgrades at both Munda and Gizo. “A great job when our travelling clients will see the finished product.”
Airline tickets for travel to Gizo can be purchased but only for travel from Sunday 22nd September.
The airlines says “Welkam back Gizo.”
Source: Press Release, Solomon Airlines