Debrief

The Third Battle for Guadalcanal.

Japanese forces lost the first, while the now defunct Ozjet and SkyAirWorld (both dead due to wounds) lost the second due to overcapacity as Solomons Airlines flights operated by Air Vanuatu’s (later Our Airline) 737 and Pacific Blue’s services. The third will see Pac Blue take on Solomons’ Strategic Airlines operated A320, in lieu of Our Airline’s 737-300. The latter still holds Brisbane/Honiara rights and may well recommence selling seats.

Announced schedules and the latest loads see about 85,000 seats available for a market of around 45,000 pax each year – barely a 50 per cent load factor, which no carrier appears to make. To deal with this, Pacific Blue could drop to144 seat 737-700s or E Jets – especially with one now wearing Pacific Blue colours. The underfloor freight capacity of 5 A320/737-800s per week (less during monsoon season due to the lack of close alternates) is such that the weekly Pacific Air Express 737-300C service to Honiara might lose out. Is there more bloodshed to come?