THE newly registered State Owned Enterprises (SOE) – Solomon Islands Airport Corporation Limited (SIACL) is currently doing preparatory works.

This was confirmed by Communication and Aviation Permanent Secretary, Moses Virivolomo in an interview with the paper.

“We have already set up the company, and currently doing preparatory work. We are on the process of preparing accountability documents, the structure of the company, and what type of personnel to be in that company.

“People that work in the ministry” said Virivolomo, referring to the Ministry of Communication and Aviation, can directly employed in the new SOE.

He said other qualifications required that cannot access in the ministry can be taken from outside.

“We want to see the airline work because at the moment we are doing reforms at the civil aviation whereby we form that company.”

He said when the company comes into operation will responsible for airport terminals, airline customs and quarantine services and provide other services such as transport for passengers on arrival and departure.

“Currently the Ministry of Communication and Aviation is running the airport

“In the future when the company comes into operation, they will perform all these tasks,” he said.

He said the Ministry will by the time only deal with government policies.

“Civil Aviation Authority for Solomon Islands (CAASI) will do the regulatory work, and the company will run the whole airport and activities that going on in the terminals.

“The company’s work will involve airlines that are coming in the country, managing the airport both domestic and international,” he further clarified.

Mr Virivolomo said for the start, the company will operate at Henderson, Munda and Gizo, and later to Taro, Seghe, Lata, Marau, Suavanao, and Tigoa when they are upgraded.

In the meantime, the aviation permanent secretary said the recent appointment of Solomon Airlines CEO is a new start for the national carrier, and the ministry wants to see the airline to work properly.

Island Sun understands that the new SOE was registered in June 2016.