Solomon Airlines commence Honiara - Sydney direct service
Underlining the importance of the event, a host of VIP passengers joined Minister of Culture and Tourism, the Honourable Batholomew Parapolo, the New Zealand High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, Her Excellency Ms Marion Cranshaw and Solomon Airlines’ chairman, Denton Rarawa on board flight IE 710 which arrived into Sydney International Airport bang on schedule at 1830 hours on Monday.
Senior officials on board also included Director of Civil Aviation, George Satu; Director of of Tourism Barney Sivoro; Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau CEO Josefa Tuamoto, Solomon Airlines’ board directors Sebastian Ilala and Robert Pollard along with representatives of the Solomon Islands business community.
The VIP party was officially welcomed on arrival at a cocktail function hosted by Sydney Airport before moving on to the Mercure Sydney International Airport Hotel where a formal celebratory dinner took place hosted by Solomon Airlines.
While a passenger on the Honiara-Sydney service, Solomon Airlines CEO, Captain Ron Sumsum took the helm for departing flight IE 711, smoothly piloting the Airbus A320 on to the runway where the flagship received a traditional water cannon salute from the airport’s fire engines.
Solomon Airlines General Manager Operations & Commercial, Gus Kraus said the inauguration of the new service represented a pivotal moment in Solomon Airlines’ proud 53 year history.
“This new service not only paves the way for an even closer relationship between the Solomon Islands and Australia, it also has great significance for the prospect of increased trade and business links between our two countries,” Mr Kraus said.
“Equally important is to continue to build on the advances we have achieved in conjunction with the Solomon islands Visitors Bureau via a joint strategy which sees us combining resources to effectively increase the Solomon Islands’ profile as a new, viable and very exciting travel destination for the key Australian market.”
Welcoming Solomon Airlines to the Harbour City, Sydney Airport Managing Director and CEO, Kerrie Mather said the new route has been well timed to offer a direct service from Sydney to Honiara for travellers looking for a tropical winter getaway.
“It also provides more choice for passengers, expanding Sydney Airport’s network of international destinations from 44 to 45.” .....Solomon Star
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