Solomons - Solomon Airlines (IE, Honiara) is experiencing disruptions to its DHC-8-100 services to Munda and Gizo due to insufficient aviation fuel supplies at the two airports. The fuel shortage follows a separate maintenance issue that has forced the carrier to operate at a reduced schedule.
Paul Abbot, the airline's acting chief executive officer, confirmed the operational challenges in a statement reported by the Solomon Star newspaper. He explained that with low or no fuel availability at Munda and Gizo, the airline's Dash 8 must tanker fuel from Honiara. This increases the aircraft's take-off weight and limits its ability to operate with a full passenger load.
"The airline apologised to customers and tourism operators for inconvenience caused by interruptions to the Dash 8 aircraft operations, which have now been exacerbated by the impact of insufficient aviation fuel supplies in Munda and Gizo," Abbot stated.
Prior to the fuel issue, the aircraft had been operating with restrictions pending the arrival of a replacement part.
"That part has been received, and we will resume our full Dash 8 scheduled operations as soon as possible," Abbot said, adding, "Unfortunately, we are now additionally hampered by low to no fuel availability at Munda and Gizo, which is extremely frustrating."
Abbot stressed that the initial maintenance-related schedule reduction was a precautionary measure.
"The issue was never related to safety; it was a matter of necessary maintenance, and our decision to limit operations was due to adhering strictly to the aircraft manufacturer's guidelines and regulatory compliance requirements," he said.
According to ch-aviation fleets data, Solomon Airlines operates a single 37-seat DHC-8-100, powered by Pratt & Whitney Canada PW120A engines. The fleet also includes two active A320-200s and four DHC-6-300s, of which only two are active.
