Nadi included in Airbus A320 Solomons’ mass repatriation

Around 130 Solomon Islanders are understood to have been repatriated from Fiji yesterday. Around 300 people are expected to be repatriated over the next two weeks.

The largest repatriation of Solomon Islanders stranded overseas because of the COVID-19 pandemic began on Tuesday. Dr Jimmy Rodgers, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, said the first flight from Brisbane would have 132 people on board. He said another on Wednesday would bring 130 people from Fiji.

A statement from Solomon Airlines yesterday stated: “The aircraft is Solomon Airlines’ 144 seat Airbus A320, with 132 Economy Class seats and 12 Business Class.

“We expect it will depart Fiji today (yesterday) completely full.

“Flight IE678 is scheduled to depart Nadi at 3:15pm and arrive in Honiara 5:15pm. “Passengers on board will be predominantly Solomon Islands citizens who have been based in, or stranded in Fiji for some time and are now travelling home.

“Also on board are Solomon Islands citizens who joined the flight in Vanuatu and are transiting Nadi back to Honiara.”

The statement further added that the repatriation flights on Tuesday and yesterday were operated with the approval of the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fijian Governments and were open to Solomon Islands passport holders.

Dr Rodgers said: “Every country there is a second-phase of this virus going up. “Instead of dropping our guard in this country it is now time for us to even tighten our guard further.

“Because now the reason is we are also looking at bringing our people home to safety.”

Dr Rodgers said most of the people the government was looking to repatriate were Solomon Islanders stranded in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu because of coronavirus border restrictions.

There will be some returning expatriates onboard the flights as well, he said.

A third charter flight is also expected soon to bring home workers from the tuna industry. Solomon Islands has had no confirmed cases of the coronavirus.