Matthew Findlay appointed CEO of Solomon Airlines
By Andrew Curran.
Matthew Findlay will become the new Solomon Airlines CEO, effective February 16, 2026. Findlay is currently the director of global markets at Ailevon Pacific Aviation Consulting. He will take over from interim Solomon Airlines CEO Paul Abbot, who has manned the hot seat since the departure of Sean Te'o in mid-2025.
Solomon Airlines Chairman Frank Wickham says Findlay’s appointment followed a rigorous shortlisting and selection process, including consultation with the Ministry of Finance and Treasury.
“Matthew’s extensive experience and exposure to the challenges of Pacific aviation will enable Solomon Airlines under his leadership, to further solidify our operational aspirations and to realise enhanced growth opportunities,” said Wickham.
Findlay has worked at Ailevon for the past six years. Before that, he was a director at Tourism Top End; the aviation development director at Northern Territory Airports; a director at Destination Port Stephens; and the commercial and aviation business development executive manager at Newcastle Williamtown Airport.
In a January 29, 2026, LinkedIn post, Findlay said the Solomons had immense potential to improve its connectivity with the rest of the world.
“Solomon Airlines is poised to continue forging these connections, not only for the Solomons but also in partnership with neighbouring nations,” Findlay wrote.
Like many island nations in the Southwest Pacific, the Solomon Islands is relatively unvisited and has sparse air connections to the rest of the world – a result of geography, small populations, and cost. The country handled just over 15,000 international passenger arrivals in the three months to September 30, 2025.
Aero South Pacific’s Solomon Islands Country Brief, available for download here, notes that the primary airport in the Solomons, Honiara International (HIR), has scheduled passenger flights to just four other countries and aside from Solomon Airlines, is served by only three scheduled airlines.
During Abbot’s tenure, Solomon Airlines announced a significant expansion of its international services in 2026, including starting flights between Honiara and Port Moresby (POM) and Christchurch (CHC) and Port Vila (VLI).
Over the past 18 months, Solomon Airlines has also developed something of a mini-international network out of Port Vila, the capital of neighbouring Vanuatu, after its state-owned airline, Air Vanuatu, was liquidated in 2024 and ended its international flying.
Aside from helping keep the Southwest Pacific connected, it’s proved a handy piece of business for Solomon Airlines and helped keep its two A320-200s gainfully employed.
“It’s an exciting time for Solomon Airlines and for Solomon Islands as the company navigates current challenges in some markets, and explores vast potential in others,” said Findlay in an official statement announcing his new role.
“The Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific region offer much untapped potential for tourism, trade and air connectivity between nations and larger global markets.”
Findlay will re-locate to Honiara and complete all Solomon Islands Civil Aviation Authority regulatory requirements before taking up his new role.
Photos: Solomon Airlines.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com