โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
60
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY), also known by its ICAO code AGGC, is a vital regional aviation facility located on Taro Island, the administrative capital of Choiseul Province in the Solomon Islands. Situated on a small coral island just off the northwest coast of the larger Choiseul Island, the airport acts as a critical lifeline for the provincial government and the local community. The airfield is a unique geographical feature, with the runway and terminal facilities occupying a significant portion of the entire island's land area.
The airport operates through a single, compact passenger terminal building that manages domestic island traffic. Facilities within the terminal are extremely basic, reflecting its role as a remote provincial outpost. Inside, travelers will find a simple check-in area and a sheltered waiting lounge that provides relief from the tropical sun. The facility's straightforward layout ensures that passengers can quickly transition from the terminal to the aircraft apron. The airfield consists of a well-maintained unpaved grass runway that is optimized for the regional turboprop aircraft, such as the de Havilland Canada Twin Otter and Dash 8, which are the mainstays of Solomon Islands aviation.
Commercial services at CHY are exclusively provided by the national carrier, Solomon Airlines. Regular scheduled flights connect Taro Island with the national capital, Honiara (HIR), and the regional hub of Gizo (GZO) on Nusatupe Island. These flights are essential for the movement of government personnel, medical supplies, and local produce, as well as for the small but growing number of eco-tourists visiting the remote western Solomon Islands. Ground transportation on Taro Island is primarily conducted via small boats and walking tracks, as the island is small enough to navigate by foot. The airport's presence is fundamental to the integration of Choiseul Province into the national economy, ensuring that this distant community remains connected to the rest of the archipelago.
๐ Connection Tips
Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY) is a remote Solomon Islands airport where the right connection strategy is to protect Honiara and treat Taro as the final domestic island arrival. Solomon Airlines' own current check-in guidance still says domestic counters open 90 minutes before departure and close 30 minutes before departure, which is useful because it reminds you how limited and process-sensitive domestic island flying can be. If your trip connects to an international departure from Honiara, an overnight or at least a very conservative buffer remains the safer approach.
The airport's unusual setting on Taro Island makes the local side interesting, but it does not make the connection more flexible. The issue is not navigation. It is weather, limited frequencies, and the lack of good recovery options if the domestic leg slips. That is the normal pattern in the Solomons, and Choiseul is no exception.
On arrival, the next movement may involve a boat, vehicle, or local pickup depending on where you are actually headed in Choiseul Province. That handoff should already be arranged before you travel. CHY works best when you think like an island traveler: protect the international itinerary at Honiara, obey the domestic check-in discipline, and treat the Taro leg as the final local movement rather than the part of the trip that has to carry a high-stakes same-day connection.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Afutara Aerodrome (AFT/AGAF) operates as a small community airstrip on Malaita Island in the Solomon Islands, positioned at just 23 feet above sea level near the village of Afutara. The single runway 6/24 measures 1,501 feet in length, specifically designed to accommodate Solomon Airlines' DHC-6-300 Twin Otter aircraft that provide scheduled domestic connections to Honiara International Airport and other provincial destinations across the archipelago.
Infrastructure at Afutara reflects the basic operational requirements of remote island aviation in the Solomon Islands. The airstrip operates without conventional terminal buildings, instead utilizing simple community-maintained shelters that provide essential weather protection for passengers and basic cargo handling. All flight operations are coordinated directly between Solomon Airlines crew and local community representatives, maintaining the personal service characteristic of outer island aviation throughout the Pacific.
Passenger amenities are limited to essential weather shelter and basic seating areas, as operations focus on transportation rather than commercial services. No retail facilities, dining options, or modern check-in systems exist at the aerodrome. Travelers must arrive completely prepared with food, water, and any required supplies for their journey. Ground transportation depends entirely on pre-arranged community connections, typically involving local trucks or boats for onward travel to surrounding villages, as Afutara lacks commercial taxi services or vehicle rental facilities.
๐ Connection Tips
Afutara Aerodrome should be planned as a remote island airstrip rather than a normal connection airport. Travel through AFT depends on Solomon Airlines domestic operations from Honiara and on local weather, runway condition, and aircraft availability. Solomon Airlines has repeatedly emphasized that safety equipment and weather volatility can disrupt service at smaller Solomon Islands aerodromes, so passengers should assume that timing can move even when the route is operating.
That means reconfirmation is essential. If you are connecting from an international arrival into Honiara, do not build a tight same-day chain unless the airline or your travel organizer has specifically confirmed it. Remote Solomon Islands sectors can be delayed or reshuffled, and when a flight does not operate, the fallback is often waiting for the next available movement rather than choosing from several later departures. Carry medicines, chargers, and any critical documents in your hand luggage for exactly that reason.
Ground logistics at the Afutara end also need advance work. There is no big terminal, no broad transport market, and no guarantee of on-demand vehicles or boats when you land. Your host, project contact, or accommodation should know your arrival details before you leave Honiara. For most travelers, the safest connection strategy is to treat Honiara as the stable hub, leave margin on both sides of the domestic sector, and keep expectations aligned with a lightly served provincial airstrip rather than a fully resourced airport.
โ Back to Choiseul Bay Airport