Solomon Airlines New Focus on Operations from Australia and New Zealand to Vanuatu
Solomon Airlines will focus on operations from Australia and New Zealand to Vanuatu, announcing a new international schedule from 3 October in a bid to meet developing tourism demand.
The Solomon Islands national carrier stepped in to introduce flights from Auckland and Brisbane to Vanuatu last year after the withdrawal of Air Vanuatu from international services. Now, with established operations and Air Vanuatu domestic flights within the country, international schedules are streamlined to optimise connections for tourist and travellers to, from and within Vanuatu.
Increased customer demand
“We are designing operations to best meet customer demand, especially for tourism development, that means schedules which allow a 7-night stay at primary destinations,” Solomon Airlines commercial manager, John Wopereis, said.
Under the revised schedule Solomon Airlines is re-implementing a Brisbane- Espiritu Santo-Brisbane service on Thursday in both directions. The flights are timed to allow for 7-night stays in Santo, optimal for divers and holidaymakers.
“With Air Vanuatu now restoring domestic service, we will also step back and withdraw Solomon Airlines flying the route between Santo and Port Vila,” Wopereis added.
Additional changes
- Auckland-Port Vila flights increases to 3x return services weekly.
- Introduction of a second Brisbane- Santo Espiritu service from 5 April 2026.
- Introduction of a new Brisbane-Honiara flight on Saturdays, providing a new departure date option for customers and improved cargo carriage opportunities.
- Cessation of Brisbane-Honiara Sunday services.
- Brisbane-Auckland services currently operating on Fridays will now operate on Sunday, maintaining a direct transit connection from Honiara.
- The popular Auckland-Brisbane-Munda-Honiara service on Fridays remains.
- Honiara to Nadi service on Saturday and Nadi-Honiara service on Sunday remains.
- Flights on the Honiara-Port Vila and Port-Vila -Honiara routes are no longer operated by Solomon Airlines effective from 1 October 2025. Solomon Airlines is contacting passengers affected by this change with existing forward bookings reaccommodated to codeshare flights operated by Air Niugini.
“Designing an optimal airline schedule is ongoing, it is a case of responding to customers’ needs and wants across the leisure, VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives), RSE seasonal workforce and business traveller markets,” Wopereis added.
“We are working closely with our stakeholders and especially our partners at Air Vanuatu, Espiritu Santo Tourism Association (ESTA), Vanuatu Tourism Office (VTO).
“Santo for example is a very popular tourism destination out of Brisbane and with strong collaborative efforts between us we have planned ongoing promotion of this route.”
What is new at a glance
Solomon Airlines now offers same day flights and are launching a second service by April 2026, in time for the Easter period. The airline is also experiencing strong demand for flights to Port Vila, a popular tourism destination out of New Zealand.
Solomon Airlines Expands Routes
News Summary:
Solomon Airlines is updating its international schedule from October 3, 2025, focusing on routes between Australia, New Zealand, and Vanuatu to support growing tourism.
“We are designing operations to best meet customer demand, especially for tourism development,” said John Wopereis, the airline’s commercial manager. “That means schedules which allow a 7-night stay at primary destinations.”
New changes include more Auckland-Port Vila flights, a second weekly Brisbane-Espiritu Santo service from April 2026, and a new Brisbane-Honiara flight on Saturdays. Flights between Santo and Port Vila will stop, as Air Vanuatu resumes domestic services. “Designing an optimal airline schedule is ongoing,” Wopereis added, “it is a case of responding to customers’ needs and wants.”
Source: Travel Weekly
