“Improved Access Ahead: Rehabilitation Works Begin on Two Key Rural Airports”

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation, is pleased to announce that rehabilitation works for Atoifi Airport in East Kwaio Constituency, Malaita Province and AvuAvu Airport in East Guadalcanal Constituency, Guadalcanal Province are now underway.

Atoifi and AvuAvu Airports respectively are two existing Provincial Airports of the country which were previously operational and active components of the country’s domestic aviation network, providing essential access for passengers, medical services and the movement of goods. However, operations at both airports were disrupted and eventually ceased during the period of civil unrest (ethnic tension) that the Solomon Islands had experienced in 1999 to 2003 which significantly affected infrastructure and service delivery across parts of the country. Since then flight services to these two airports were suspended until now.

As part of the National Government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen aviation infrastructure and improve transportation connectivity for rural and remote communities across the country, the rehabilitation of Atoifi and AvuAvu airports represents a deliberate step towards re-opening of these two essential airports and to once again restore normal flight operations back to them.

Rehabilitation works on these two airports were being outsourced to two construction companies who have successfully been selected through appropriate government tender processes. The works being undertaken involve essential upgrades to improve the safety, reliability and operational standards of the two airports. Rehabilitation activities include runway grading and levelling, back-filling of existing runway, back-filling of runway extension, drainage improvements, clearing of vegetation along runway corridors and strengthening of runway surfaces to ensure safe aircraft landing and take-off operations.

The Government recognises that air transport plays a critical role in connecting remote communities to essential services and economic opportunities. In many parts of the country, rural airstrips remain an important lifeline for the delivery of medical services, emergency evacuations, government services and the transportation of goods and people. The rehabilitation of these airstrips reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening the domestic aviation network and ensuring that rural communities are not left behind in national development.

These rehabilitation works also demonstrate the Government’s vision to improving aviation infrastructures across the country and ensuring safer and more reliable air services for the country’s rural populations. The Ministry of Communication and Aviation on behalf of the Government acknowledges the cooperation and support of local communities and land owning tribes of the land-sites which hosted these two airstrips for positively responding to these development initiatives and allowing the rehabilitation works on these two airstrips to progress peacefully.

Further, the Ministry would also like to extend its acknowledgement to the Provincial Governments of both Malaita and Guadalcanal and other stakeholders who continue to work closely with the Ministry of Communication and Aviation to facilitate the implementation of these important infrastructure improvements.

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation will continue to monitor the progress of the rehabilitation works that are now ongoing in the Atoifi and AvuAvu airports and ensure that the rehabilitation work activities on the ground are implemented in accordance with required safety and operational standards.

The Ministry of Communication and Aviation remains committed to investing in aviation infrastructure as part of its broader strategy to enhance national connectivity, support socio-economic development and ensure that essential services such as communication, air transport etc. are accessible to all citizens across the Solomon Islands.