Solomon Airlines scales up its international network

By Andrew Curran.

Solomon Airlines will increase frequencies on existing international routes and debut two new routes in the first half of 2026. The airline will start flights to Port Moresby (POM) in neighbouring Papua New Guinea on March 31, 2026, as well as twice-weekly flights between Port Vila (VLI) and Christchurch (CHC) on July 1.

In addition, flights between Honiara and Port Vila (VLI) will re-start from March 30 and the existing thrice-weekly flights between Port Vila and Auckland (AKL) will scale up to four times weekly from July 3. Flights between Espiritu Santo (SON) and Brisbane (BNE) will also increase.

The small state-owned carrier says it is looking to create new opportunities.

"We are closely monitoring demand across our region and adjusting operations to meet opportunities, for new business, whilst serving our national interests at the same time,” said Solomon Airlines CEO Paul Abbot.

“Under this international schedule, we will re-establish a weekly flight between Honiara and Port Vila, add flights from Honiara to Port Moresby with connections to Asian ports, and increase our operations to Vanuatu from both Australia and New Zealand.”

New Solomon Airlines' flights target different customers

Solomon Airlines’ international network currently extends to Brisbane (served from Honiara, Munda (MUA), and Espiritu Santo), Auckland, and Nadi (NAN). The carrier’s two A320-200s operate across this network. The airline also has four DHC-6-300 Twin Otters that work across its extensive domestic network.

The new Port Moresby flights are timed to align with China Southern flights, facilitating the flow of passenger traffic between the Solomons and Asia.

In the three months to September 30, 2025, Chinese nationals made up the second-largest visitor cohort to the Solomons, tailing behind Australians.

The new flights between Christchurch and Port Vila are targeting a different demographic – Kiwis keen to escape a South Island winter. The twice-weekly Solomon Airlines service will be the first ever non-stop connection between the two cities.

“We’re excited to welcome Solomon Airlines to Christchurch Airport and to offer travellers another new option in the South Pacific,” said Christchurch Airport CEO Justin Watson.

The service directly competes with Fiji Airways flights to Nadi and Air New Zealand flights to Rarotonga (RAR) from Christchurch. Giving the competition a gentle nudge, Abbott says Vanuatu's capital offers an appealing South Pacific alternative “to more cluttered tourist destinations.”

Better frequencies on existing Solomon Airlines services

Meanwhile, the resuming flights between Honiara and Port Vila will run once weekly and compete with Air Niugini’s weekly service. The Solomon Airlines has timed the flights to arrive and depart at Port Vila for easy connections to and from Auckland.

The fourth weekly flight between Port Vila and Auckland will operate over the weekend and helps cement the airline’s role as Vanuatu's de-facto international carrier while Air Vanuatu remains out of the international arena.

Solomon Airlines also flies between another Vanuatuan airport, Espiritu Santo, and Brisbane. The airline is also boosting that weekly round-trip to twice weekly from early April.

Solomon Airlines says the new routes and increased flight frequencies will better connect the Solomons with key leisure, trade, and business markets across the region.

Photo: Solomon Airlines.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com