โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Nana Airport (NAZ), also known as Star Harbour Airport, is a small regional airstrip serving the community of Star Harbour on the eastern tip of San Cristobal (Makira) island in the Solomon Islands. The terminal is a basic, open-air structure that perfectly reflects the remote and tropical nature of the region. It primarily handles domestic flights from the capital, Honiara, operated by Solomon Airlines, providing an essential link for both the local community and visitors to this isolated part of the archipelago.
Facilities at the airport are minimal, with a simple sheltered area for passengers to wait for their flights. There are no commercial shops or dining options on-site, so travelers should be fully self-sufficient with food, water, and other essentials. The airstrip is surrounded by the lush tropical forests and coastal landscapes of Makira, making it a scenic and unique point of arrival for those seeking an off-the-beaten-path island experience.
Ground transportation from the airport to nearby villages and community centers is almost exclusively by local transport or by boat, which is a primary mode of travel in this island-dotted region. The airport is a vital link for the local community, offering a convenient and scenic alternative to longer sea voyages from the capital. Arriving at Nana offers an immediate immersion into the pristine and tranquil beauty of the eastern Solomon Islands, ensuring that this remote part of the country remains connected to essential services.
๐ Connection Tips
Nana Airport (NAZ) at Star Harbour represents one of the most remote aviation connections in the Solomon Islands, serving the eastern tip of Makira (San Cristobal) island with highly weather-dependent services. Ground and water transportation must be carefully coordinated before arrival, as Star Harbour offers no taxi services or vehicle rentals at the basic airstrip facility. The airstrip's grass surface becomes unusable when saturated by heavy tropical rains, leading to immediate cancellations that can extend for days during the wet season (November through April).
Solomon Airlines operates Twin Otter DHC-6 aircraft to this grass airstrip, but flights are cancelled very frequently - scheduled departures actually operating on time are the exception rather than the rule, making this destination unsuitable for travelers with tight international connections through Honiara. Most onward travel involves outboard motor boats, which take 45-60 minutes to reach various coastal villages and the famous surf breaks like Bola's near Tawarogha village to the northwest. Travelers must maintain complete flexibility with their schedules and should never plan same-day connections back to international flights from Honiara.
The 45-minute flight from Henderson International Airport (HIR) in Honiara is spectacular when weather permits, offering aerial views of countless pristine islands and coral reefs. These boat transfers are entirely weather-dependent and should be pre-arranged through local guesthouses or community contacts, as spontaneous transportation is virtually non-existent in this remote region where mobile phone coverage is extremely limited or absent. Essential supplies including water, non-perishable food, basic medications, and cash in Solomon Islands dollars must be carried, as Star Harbour has minimal commercial facilities and no banking services whatsoever.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Avu Avu Airport (AVU) is a regional aviation facility located on the rugged southern coast of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. The airport features a minimalist terminal area that primarily handles domestic scheduled flights and inter-island charters, serving as a critical lifeline for the remote Weather Coast communities. Its primary function is to provide essential access for passengers, medical supplies, and government logistics in a region where the absence of a reliable road network makes air travel the only practical link to the national capital.
Inside the terminal area, facilities are basic and designed for functional use rather than extensive passenger dwell time. There is a simple sheltered waiting area with limited seating and a small administrative office for the airfield management. While traditional airport retail and dining are not available on-site, the local Avu Avu community offers traditional staples and basic supplies during flight times. The environment is rustic and professional, reflecting the remote maritime nature of southern Guadalcanal, with no automated baggage handling systems or jet bridges in place.
The infrastructure at Avu Avu includes a single unpaved runway suitable for light turboprop aircraft, such as the De Havilland Canada Twin Otter often used by Solomon Airlines. Security at the field is managed locally and focuses on basic identification and cargo oversight. Despite its small scale, the airport is a vital link for the regional economy, providing the only reliable connection for essential supplies and medical evacuations to this isolated part of the Solomon Islands, bypassing the long and often difficult sea voyages around the island's southern capes.
๐ Connection Tips
Avu Avu Airport (AVU) serves as a specialized domestic gateway for the Weather Coast of Guadalcanal. For travelers, 'connecting' at AVU is a localized experience because all operations are consolidated within a single, minimalist terminal building. Most passengers arrive on scheduled regional links from Honiara (HIR), which typically operate once or twice weekly. If your travel plans involve a connection to an international hub like Brisbane, you will first need to return to Honiara. It is recommended to allow at least 24 to 48 hours between your regional arrival and an international departure to account for potential weather delays.
Ground transportation from the terminal is primarily managed through walking paths or small boat transfers, as the area lacks a formal road network. While there are no on-demand taxi ranks, visitors are usually met directly on the apron by their local hosts. For those heading to nearby coastal villages, motorized canoe transfers are the common connection method and should be arranged with local boatmen in advance. It is essential to coordinate your arrival time with your contact, as cellular coverage at the airfield can be intermittent during heavy tropical rain.
Travelers should arrive fully self-sufficient, as there are no retail shops or ATMs available on-site. Please ensure that all your onward travel arrangements, including ground transport to your final destination, are confirmed well in advance. Our research indicates that regional transit in this area is highly weather-dependent and requires travelers to remain flexible with their schedules. Always confirm your flight status 24 hours prior to departure, carry your essential medications and critical documents in your hand baggage, and maintain open lines of communication with your local hosts or transport providers. By treating this airport segment as the foundation of your regional travel plan rather than the conclusion of your flight, you will find that it is a highly reliable gateway, provided you account for the unique pace of local transport and the seasonal variability of the local environment, which can often be unpredictable due to sudden meteorological shifts or technical logistics.
It is vital to carry sufficient Solomon Islands Dollars (SBD) in cash for all local expenses, as credit card acceptance is non-existent. For departures, aim to arrive at the terminal at least 60 minutes prior to takeoff for manual baggage weighing. Tropical weather can cause sudden schedule changes; always maintain close contact with Solomon Airlines for real-time updates. For missed connections, travelers must typically contact the airline's main office in Honiara, as on-site support is limited to basic ground logistics.
โ Back to Nana Airport