The Government Covid-19 Oversight Committee has confirmed the next repatriation flight on December 6 for our nationals overseas.

Chair of the COVID-19 Oversight Committee, Mr James Remobatu has confirmed the Repatriation flight in an Advisory Notice No. 15 to repatriate Solomon Islands students, RSE workers and passengers in New Zealand.

Mr Remobatu also confirmed the cancellation of the second repatriation flight from the Philippines due to latest positive test results on some students.

“In reference to Repatriation Advisory Notice 14 issued on 18 November 2020 regarding the confirmed flight to Manila on 24 November, is hereby cancelled due to the results of COVID 19 tests carried out on students scheduled to travel on the flight. New dates will be announced in due course,” Remobatu said.

The confirmed repatriation flight on 6 December will depart Brisbane International Airport at 0715hrs and arrive at Auckland International Airport at 1325hrs. On the same day, Solomon Airlines will depart Auckland International Airport at 1625hrs and arrive at Honiara.

All nationals who will be boarding these scheduled flights must have valid Solomon Airlines tickets and are strongly encouraged to contact Solomon Airlines Office for ticketing information or visit their website: https://www.flysolomons.com/

The Government is conscious of the welfare of its citizens in view of the confirmed cases being imported through the repatriation flights coming from high-risk countries. It is very cautious of the potential importation of the virus into the country and wish to remind all incoming travelers to comply with the following requirements:

  • That the Joint Travel Advisory No.4 issued by the Solomon Islands Government dated 21 March 2020 is currently in force and that all incoming travelers must take heed and comply with.
  • With reference to the JTA No.4 paragraph 1.1, all non-nationals who wish to enter Solomon Islands MUST apply to the Office of the Prime Minister through the COVID-19 Oversight Committee for exemptions approval. Applications can be forwarded through the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade.
  • All persons entering Solomon Islands will undergo mandatory quarantine at a Government identified quarantine station for a specified period provided under the Solomon Islands Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020.
  • All persons entering Solomon Islands from COVID-19 affected countries (but with regressing rate of new infections and decreasing number of active cases) must provide two negative test results from their country of origin 14 -12 days and 72 hours before travelling to Solomon Islands and will undergo mandatory 14 days quarantine and surveillance at a Government identified quarantine station. Further, they will undergo a required number of qPCR tests for COVID-19 to be determined by the Solomon Islands Government Health Authorities.
  • All persons entering Solomon Islands from very high risks COVID-19 affected countries with infection rate increasing, consistently serious or wide community transmission report must provide three negative test results 21 days prior to travel (day 21-18, 14-12 and 3 days before travel). All persons are required to undergo 21 days in-country mandatory quarantine period, and be required to undertake a number of qPCR tests for COVID-19 to be determined by the Solomon Islands Government Health Authorities.
  • It is a prerequisite for all incoming travelers to MUST complete the Public Health Declaration Form and Instructions on the Conduct Form truthfully and return to the Solomon Islands Government Health Authorities 5 clear days before travelling into Solomon Islands. All completed pre-departure forms can be forwarded through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade or any Solomon Islands Missions Overseas nearest to your location. Anyone who fail to comply and respond truthfully will be penalized with a $10,000 fine or 5-years imprisonment or both.
  • The Solomon Islands government may advice Solomon Airlines to deny any person from boarding if they do not meet the above requirements.
  • Persons may also be denied boarding at the gate if and when symptoms of COVID-19 are physically identified on them.
  • Foreign nationals will meet their own quarantine costs at Government quarantine Hotels upon entry into Solomon Islands.

All persons travelling or intending to travel to Solomon Islands are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with these travel requirements.

Source: GCU