Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# News From The Solomons Came-New Airport!! Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
hardnosethehighway 04:56 UTC 29 Dec 2010 | Not quite in the bag yet but something to look forward to-hopefully those with more Solomons experience will chime in soon SOLOMONS MUNDA TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Upgrade to create country’s second major destination HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, Dec. 28, 2010) – Munda Airport will become the second international airport in the Solomon Islands. PIR editor’s note: Munda is the largest settlement located at the southwestern tip of New Georgia Island in the Western Province.) Prime Minister (PM) Honorable Danny Philip made this announcement while visiting Munda. He said the airport would be upgraded to become an international airport. He said he hoped the upgrading of Munda Airport into an international airport would boost the tourism industry in the country. The PM said since the Western Province was the hub of tourism in the country, it was important that our country have a international setup in Munda to minimize the cost and distance for tourists wanting to visit Western Province He said this was one of the National Government’s priorities and plans were in place to begin the first phase of progress on Munda airport. The PM said there were many interested investors and once consultation took place between the government and the landowning group was, work could get started on the plan some time next year. He said opening up Munda to international visitors would help boost the economy of the area and the country. He said his government intends to shift their economic base from logging to tourism by broadening the tourism base economy. The Prime Minister said people in Kekehe were willing to relocate to allow for the upgrades. "As well as the landowning group and people in Munda are willing and ready to support on the up grading of the Munda airport to an international airport," he said. Solomon Star Copyright © 2010 Solomon Star. All Rights Reserved |
ozziegiraffe 12:56 UTC 29 Dec 2010 | They've been talking about an International Airport in Munda for some time (I guess it would be the Solomon equivalent of Santo in Vanuatu - other end of the country from the capital, and, as they say, the tourist hub (though not the area I prefer to visit). Danny Phillip is from the Western province, so it is in his interests to support it. However, I'll only believe it when I see it. | 1
watsoff 17:00 UTC 29 Dec 2010 | I'd have thought the area was too small for international flights. Progress, I suppose, but at what cost? | 2
ozziegiraffe 11:04 UTC 30 Dec 2010 | They certainly couldn't fit an international airport on Gizo. Munda, like Henderson in Honiara, is an old WWII airport, so bigger than most others in the country. Of course, it has already had arriving international flights, eg from PNG with Moti. | 3
watsoff 17:23 UTC 30 Dec 2010 | Aha, didn't know that. I heard rumblings about it on my last trip there, but didn't pay much attention. Both times I've been to Munda the runway was just a grass patch, and the first time we had trouble taking off because, when the rain finally stopped, everyone came out for an evening stroll on the 'runway' and didn't want to move out of the way. As well, on that trip a small Islander landed, with mud splattered all over the cockpit, and had to be refueled by means of a hand pump pulled out on a cart. It had flown in from Bougainville, allegedly with wounded BRO on board, so was met with a gaggle of police, immigration and custom officials (a crowd of 4). And as it was empty we were told to transfer to it for the rest of the trip to Gizo as our Twin Otter didn't have a functioning radio. But we refused, so the Islander had to fly escort ... but I digress :-) So in my mind it's a big leap from that to an international airport. Not sure what I think about it really, so different from when I first started visiting Solomons. | 4
hardnosethehighway 18:00 UTC 30 Dec 2010 | "They've been talking about an International Airport in Munda for some time....." Yes I do remember something about this a while back and it does sound the the politician is blowing some hot air/looking for a handout from overseas as per SOP. | 5
ozziegiraffe 11:38 UTC 31 Dec 2010 | He's the new PM, visiting his constituency over Christmas, and making the usual promises. Notice he's looking for investors. | 6