Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Inter-Pacific flights

Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea

I'm trying to get an overview of which island nations are connected with each other (and by which airlines). For some strange reason I can not find this information anywhere, and airlines have apparently stopped making route maps.

I only know the following:

Samoa - Tonga (Air New Zealand)
Tahiti - Cook Islands (Air Tahiti)
Fiji - Solomons Islands (Air Pacific)
Fiji - Samoa (Air Pacific)
Fiji - Tonga (Air Pacific)
Fiji - Tuvalu (Air Pacific)
Fiji - Vanuatu (Air Pacific)

I hope there is a Pacific traveller that can shed some light.

Edited by: atravelist

Honiara (Solomon Islands) to the following (as well as Fiji):
Port Vila (Vanuatu, Solomon Airlines)
Port Moresby (PNG. Air New Guinea)
Nauru (Our Airline)

1

In theory Air Marshall Islands has a bi-weekly flight from Majuro to Tarawa (Kiribati) with an Air Pacific? connection on to Nadi (Fiji), Air Mike wasn't even taking bookings so In practice I flew Majuro-Kosrae-Pohnpei-Chuuk-Guam-Cairns (super fun) with Continental. There is talk Air Nauru will pick up the Majuro-Tarawa leg but don't hold your breath.

2

Have a look at www.airtimetable.com - go to the "route maps" on the left side of the page and then click on Oceania. I don't know how current these are but it will give you somewhere to start! Trying to determine when the flights go will be another matter as many of routes in the Pacific are once or twice a week and can change at any time.

3

newfie,
For the bits involving Solomon Airlines, the airtimetable.com routes are at least 12 months out of date.
1) Pacific Blue has been flying from Brisbane to Honiara for about a year. This route is not listed.
2) Our Airline cancelled the route onwards past Nauru to Tarawa and Majuro, and I don't think it has been restored.
3) Several domestic Solomon Airlines routes are incorrect, notably they list non-existant flights to Ontong Java, but don't list a long-running route to Atoifi (this may have been suspended during the tension which ended 6 years ago, but has been running regularly since).
Also, Air Nauru has been called "Our Airline" for several years.

4

Ozziegiraffe'
I suspected as much. When we were planning our 2006 trip they were fairly accurate but I have noticed the routes/information have not been updated. As the OP noticed it is harder to get new routes on the airline websites. Lately I have taken to going to the airport website to check out their daily arrivals/departures information, that way I can see who is flying where/when. Unfortunately some of the smaller airports will not have that information either. Planning has become more difficult if you are an independent traveler trying to 'do it yourself'!

5

Air Pacific is still flying from Nadi (Fiji) to Tarawa (Kiribati), isn't it? And there also seems to be a connection Wallis-Nadi (Aircalin), but I can't seem to find Nadi to Wallis Island as a possible route.

6

Where the Pacific, especially the less touristy parts are concerned, most travel agents need help. I have found one who is interested enough to ask questions and do research, and send all my Solomons-bound friends to her.
Most agents only know about the high profile dive resorts in the Western Province.

7

Sorry but a little bit off the topic

# 2 you talk about an - unreliable and theoretical - AirMarshall Island flight
Majuro-Tarawa on a fortnightly basis.
The AirMI - website doesnt show such a connection and nobody has replied to
my enquiries so far.
Do you have any further informations ?
Possibly I will go the same route you did but vice versa.

Also :Now Our Airline is obviously expanding its route network, now flying from
Tarawa to Honiara via Nauru according to its site - CAN I RELY ON THIS ???
AND : as far as I know I need a visa for Nauru : where can I obtain it on the way to Nauru
- in Tarawa ???? or obtainable upon arrival ?
Oh,no replies to my enquiries re the visa matter as well.

8