Solomons In
p. 119 · Read in the full issue
The Air Age
The year 1964 was the air age (internal) for the Solomons, and 1965 will see a growing list of new airfields being opened for servicing by Mega pode Airways (whose Dove aircraft is pictured). Megapode runs regular services from Honiara to Auki, Yandina, Munda and Barakoma, and offers charter flights between any of these points.
Renovation of Henderson Airfield near Honiara, is also being planned. Henderson is the pivot for Fiji Airways’ twice-weekly service between Suva, Vila and Honiara, which will shortly be increased. This service is so popular that it is difficult to get a seat, and an increasing number of tourists are realising its potential.
Honiara is also serviced by Trans Australia Airlines operating to Australia through New Guinea.
A report by the World Bank on the New Guinea economy (see p. 119), which was released in December, urged that an improved air service should link New Guinea with Fiji, so as to build up the tourist traffic from the eastern Pacific into New Guinea.
Such a scheme, which has been discussed at various times in recent years, would also give support to Solomons tourism.
Because of America’s wartime activities in the Solomons, many Americans are anxious to visit those Islands.
Population of the Solomons is more than 133,000.