Solomon Airlines will withdraw Airbus A320-200 H4-SIB from service in February 2027 and return the aircraft to its lessor when the current lease ends in May 2027, reducing its international Airbus fleet from two aircraft to one. The move is part of a broader refleeting plan and will tighten capacity across the carrier’s regional network while it keeps existing bookings in place for affected passengers.
The Honiara-based airline is adjusting schedules on routes linking Vanuatu, Auckland, Christchurch, Honiara and Port Moresby as it responds to higher fuel costs, softer demand in Australia and New Zealand and structural repairs required after recent damage to the aircraft. Services between Vanuatu and Auckland will be reduced, Vanuatu–Christchurch flights will stop from November, and the Honiara–Port Moresby route will pause until mid-December 2026.
Chief executive Matt Findlay tied the fleet decision to conditions that are expected to persist rather than short-term market noise. Solomon Airlines is also looking to bolster domestic flying over the next 12 to 24 months with additional Twin Otter aircraft, signalling a shift in focus toward local connectivity and tourism access while international capacity is trimmed.