Stranded in the Solomon Islands, domestic flights cancelled

[offshore171]

Email back from AirTaxi, they no longer have a plane in the country. This just gets worse and worse. Even the insurance company can’t evacuate us if they want to. I don’t know what happens if there is a medical emergency.

Have you registered your situation with DFAT yet? If not, it's probably at the point where you should contact them.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/contact-us

 

[Tiki]

Deputy PM is in the Solomon Islands. Facebook Any way to get him to help, even with a few words in high places?

Have you registered your situation with DFAT yet? If not, it's probably at the point where you should contact them.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/contact-us

Yes I emailed them yesterday but it was Sunday. Waiting for reply.

 

[Quickstatus]

@Tiki
I've submitted your story via X and linked in DFAT, foreign minister, and the various news channels

Maybe the media can help.

 

[Tiki]

@Tiki
I've submitted your story via X and linked in DFAT, foreign minister, and the various news channels

Maybe the media can help.

Thank you. If you hear anything please tell them we can’t give our real names until we are back home. I don’t want a target on my house. Youth crime and all that.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The issues look widespread and heavily reported already. A google search this morning has found many recent complaints about the lack of air services between the islands, caused by fleet outages.

https://www.solomonstarnews.com/ongoing-flight-cancellations-irks-travellers/

Iumi Stori

Complaints are flying in from passengers across Solomon Islands as domestic flight backlogs continue to build. Passengers from Western, Choiseul, Makira, Temotu and other parts of the country are...

www.facebook.com

Those are just two examples.
People are missing all sorts of things due to the disruption.
Even resorts have posted complaining it’s bad for their business with foreign tourists being stranded.

The obvious answer - albeit probably complicated - would be for the RAAF to send a plane to work for a few weeks to clear the backlog and get things moving again.

So the issue is well known, DFAT is likely aware. There doesn’t seem to be any immediate solution.

Checking tripadvisor there are reports going back to December 2023 of pax being stranded for days on islands due to cancellations, with poor communication, no alternative accommodation provided

 

[Melburnian1]

Thank you. If you hear anything please tell them we can’t give our real names until we are back home. I don’t want a target on my house. Youth crime and all that.

I appreciate your concern, but young crims are unlikely to read 'The Courier Mail.'

Crims are far more likely to notice obvious signs of absence such as no rubbish bins placed outside the night prior to a collection, uncollected handbills even if you've been to a Post Office or Licensed Post Office to submit a mail redirection form, or grass either on the nature strip or your front garden (assuming you have both) that hasn't been mown for some time.

You could always give your first/Christian name(s) to media but not your surname.

 

[Quickstatus]

RAAF to send a plane

Some of the runways in Solomons are 2000 feet or less.
They may need to charter a small aircraft
The RAAF has a KingAir.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Some of the runways in Solomons are 2000 feet or less.
They may need to charter a small aircraft
The RAAF has a KingAir.

The RAAF has the Alenia C-27J (a smaller version of the hercules?) - up to 60 troops or 11,000 kg. Requires runway of 1640 feet. Can be unpaved/rough surface.

 

[Quickstatus]

The ABC has replied to me. I've DM @Tiki

 

[markis10]

The RAAF has the Alenia C-27J (a smaller version of the hercules?) - up to 60 troops or 11,000 kg. Requires runway of 1640 feet. Can be unpaved/rough surface.

They are grounded in retirement

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They are grounded in retirement

But only very recently? The Minister announced in April 2026 they were going to be retired. So at most a couple months?

 

[Tiki]

Well we’re booked again to fly tomorrow morning. If it happens all problems solved. I heard back from Aussie HC in Honiara just noting our details. All I asked of them is if they know anyone important at IE to please ring them and give a nudge to get that plane prioritised. I made it clear we didn’t want financial help or anything like that and that we have travel insurance.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Well we’re booked again to fly tomorrow morning. If it happens all problems solved. I heard back from Aussie HC in Honiara just noting our details. All I asked of them is if they know anyone important at IE to please ring them and give a nudge to get that plane prioritised. I made it clear we didn’t want financial help or anything like that and that we have travel insurance.

Please keep us updated on how you get on tomorrow morning!

 

[Seat0B]

I have my fingers and toes crossed for you @Tiki

 

[DC3]

I appreciate your concern, but young crims are unlikely to read 'The Courier Mail.'

 

[drron]

I think we all have our fingers crossed for you Tiki. Having been on most outlying islands in the past I know how little they have for tourists.
Hopefully tomorrow you will get to leave.

 

[Denali]

Fingers crossed for you, Tiki!

 

[Quickstatus]

If tiki gets out, the wider issue of Aid to the Solomons still needs to be addressed at the Govt level.

 

[offshore171]

If tiki gets out, the wider issue of Aid to the Solomons still needs to be addressed at the Govt level.

And more importantly, we expect a trip report!

 

[clifford]

If tiki gets out, the wider issue of Aid to the Solomons still needs to be addressed at the Govt level.

Irrespective of whether Tiki gets out (which I'm sure she will), aid to the Solomons is another issue. China comes to mind.