Solomon Airlines' new $40million
Dash 8 touches down tomorrow at the Honiara international airport.
It left Greece on Sunday on its way to Honiara.
Solomon Airlines' General Manager Operations and Commercial Services, Gus Kraus said the aircraft is on schedule to arrive in Honiara, midday Wednesday, in time for Solomon Airlines 50th anniversary celebrations.
“On Wednesday we’ll have the opening of our new office complex first in the morning followed by the arrival of Dash 8 at midday.”
From Greece, the Dash 8 travelled to Egypt, Oman and Bangalore before it will continue en route to Banda Aceh, Pontianak, Balikpapan, Ambon, Port Moresby before arriving in Honiara.
Local pilot captain Gibson Galo is also part of the team flying the aircraft over. He is one the country's qualified pilot which had been trained to fly the aircraft.
Solomon Airlines', Chairman, Bill Tyson says the 50th anniversary celebrations will be a remarkable milestone for an airline, that has made major advances in the past four years.
He said the opening of the new office complex will centralize the airline’s operations while the new Dash 8 aircraft will improve the quality of service.
“We looked at a number of different aircrafts but it’s the Dash 8 that is best suited for Solomon Islands as it can land and take off on our airstrips. It’s a very efficient aircraft.
“And after experiencing the Dash 8 leased from Airlines PNG, Solomon Islanders now expect this standard of service.”
Solomon Airlines’ Deputy Chairman, Denton Rarawa, said with the arrival of the new Dash 8, the government and stakeholders will need to improve the standard of airstrips around the country.
“We want to maximize the use of the Dash 8 so we can fly to all airstrips in the country. The airstrips need to be all weather, which means tar sealing.”
Rarawa also urged the public to look after the Dash 8 and be proud of the new aircraft.
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