Santa Cruz (Lata) Airport runway and new terminal completed and handed over in Solomon Islands
Why It MattersSealed runways and ground lighting at remote island airports raise the reliability of regional air services and widen the scope for cross-border links between Pacific neighbours.
The Santa Cruz (Lata) Airport Runway and Terminal Project in Solomon Islands' Temotu Province has been completed and handed over. At the handover ceremony in Lata, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Communication and Aviation Frederick Kologeto said safe and reliable airports are basic to keeping remote island communities connected with the rest of the country.
The work was delivered under the Solomon Islands Road and Aviation Project 2 (SIRAP 2). It covered the surfacing of the runway, a new airport terminal building and an Aeronautical Ground Lighting (AGL) System. Kologeto said the sealed runway would be smooth, durable and resistant to weather, making aircraft operations safer and air services more reliable, and that with the lighting in place ground safety would also improve and the airport would be better placed to meet Civil Aviation Regulations.
Kologeto described Santa Cruz as the Eastern Gateway to Solomon Islands and said the upgrade would help advance the Mota Lava Treaty between Solomon Islands and Vanuatu by making it easier for Temotu Province and Vanuatu's Torba Province to trade and work together. He said improved connectivity could facilitate cross-border trade, encourage the movement of people and goods, promote tourism and strengthen relationships between neighboring island communities. He thanked the World Bank, government agencies, the Temotu Provincial Government, project teams and contractors, and urged agencies, service providers and communities to help look after public infrastructure for future generations.
