Data reveals Solomon Islands airline market share breakdown

By Andrew Curran

Recently released data from the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office shows the market share of airlines operating in and out of the small Southwest Pacific country in the three months to September 30, 2025.

Local carrier Solomon Airlines carried 32.0% of the 15,444 people who arrived in the Solomons in the three-month period.

Air Niugini was in second place (30.3%), followed by Qantas (26.0%), Fiji Airways (7.5%), and other unscheduled operators (4.1%).

Visitor numbers were up by about 10% compared to the three months to June 30, 2025. Most visitors came from Australia (28.5%), followed by China (12.2%), other Asian countries (8.3%), the United States (8.0%), and Fiji (7.9%).

Aero South Pacific’s Country Briefs, which you can download for free here, show that the Solomon Islands, like many small Southwest Pacific island nations, has relatively few international air links.

Aside from Solomon Airlines, Air Niugini connects the capital, Honiara (HIR), to its Port Moresby (POM) hub, Qantas serves Honiara from Brisbane (BNE), and Fiji Airways flies in from Nadi (NAN).

Solomon Airlines also flies to Port Vila (VLI), Brisbane, and Nadi from Honiara. The airline uses two A320-200s to operate its international flights.

Seghe terminal upgrade on track

Meanwhile, the Solomon Star newspaper reports that construction of the new Seghe Airport (EGM) terminal in Western Province, is progressing well. The work is part of the country’s Provincial Airfield Upgrade Project. The report says that terminal's groundwork and foundation works are nearing completion.

Solomon Airlines has an extensive inter-island domestic network which utilise four DHC-6-300 Twin Otters and a single DHC-8-100. The airline flies between Honiara and Seghe three times weekly. 

Downer New Zealand is overseeing the Seghe project and working with local contractor Hatanga.

“Everything is on track, and we are very happy with the progress Hatanga is making,” said Downer’s Site Supervisor, Warren Law. "A lot of materials had to be sourced from New Zealand because it is a New Zealand-designed project. But everything is on track… We are looking at completing the project around August or September next year.”

The Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australian Governments are jointly funding the SBD268 million (USD33 million) Provincial Airfield Upgrade Project.

You can read the Solomon Islands National Statistics Office news release here.

Photo: Solomon Airlines.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com