Solomon Airlines grounds all flights

Solomon Airlines, the national airline of the Solomon Islands, has halted all of its domestic and international flights over safety concerns caused by the number of flying hours for pilots and the “overuse of the domestic fleet”. The airline has activated a clause in the Civil Aviation Act regarding safety. The CEO and the board of Solomon Airlines said it has been “flying under duress and jeopardising safety standards”. It has also stated that the Finance Ministry has delayed payments owed to it for charters, as well as tickets for government officials over an extended period of time.