New Airlines CEO
SolAir’s domestic fleet back in the air as Capt William takes helm.
Solomon Airlines new CEO, Brett Gerber’s first day in office. Photo by JARED KOLI
ALMOST all Solomon Airlines’ domestic fleet are back in the air – thanks to engineers who have worked around the clock to get aircraft flying in an effort by the national carrier to clear backlogs of passengers who were stranded over the busy Christmas-New Year break.
The return to service of the three Twin Otter and one Islander is a good omen for the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Captain Gebers Brett William, who arrived in Honiara on Monday to take up his appointment.
One of the challenges for Capt William, whose appointment had initially caused a stir within civil aviation circles both here and in Australia, is keeping the domestic fleet flying.
The domestic fleet consists of one Dash 8 aircraft, three Twin Otters and an Islander.
The Dash 8, the larger in the fleet, is still down, according to operations.
Auki which had been denied daily flights since last Friday had its first flight at lunchtime on Tuesday.
On his arrival onboard Solomon Airlines flight from Brisbane on Tuesday, Capt William was taken to The Heritage Park Hotel, where no doubt he would be based for some time until suitable accommodation is found for him.
Solomon Airlines Board Secretary, Bill Tyson, drove Capt William in what appeared to be his new executive vehicle, which the Airlines took delivery of earlier this month, apparently without formal approval by the Board for the purchase.
Insiders said the Board was on Monday trying to meet to approve the purchase of the three vehicles. It is not clear whether the meeting took place.
Capt William’s vehicle was one of three Solomon Airlines had taken delivery of prior to formal approval by the Board, headed by logging businessman Austin Holmes.
The three vehicles reportedly cost the Airlines around $2 million at a time when most of the Airlines’s domestic fleet was grounded due to lack of spare parts.
The new vehicles were for the new CEO, the Finance Manager and one other expatriate staff who is reportedly still under probation.
Hundreds of passengers were stranded around the country caused by the shortage of aircraft as there were only two aircraft – an Islander and a Twin Otter – flying at the time.
A spokesman for the Airport Operations said all except the Dash 8 aircraft are back on service since Tuesday.
