Honiara International Airport

Honiara International Airport (IATA: HIR, ICAO: AGGH), formerly known as Henderson Field, is an airport in the province of Guadalcanal in the nation of Solomon Islands. It is the primary international airport in the country, the second being Munda Airport in Western Province, which serves as its alternate. It is located 8 kilometres (5 miles) from the capital, Honiara.

Honiara International Airport
(formerly Henderson Field)
Solomon Airlines Airbus A320-211 at Honiara Airport in 2012
Summary
Airport typeCivilian
LocationGuadalcanal
Elevation AMSL28 ft / 9 m
Coordinates09°25′41″S 160°03′17″E
Websitehoniarainternational.com
Map
HIR
Location of the airport in Solomon Islands
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
06/24 7,218 2,200 Asphalt
Source: WAD[1]
For the military history of the airport, see Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)

History

The airfield was commenced by Japanese forces during World War II. In 1942, the airfield, then under construction by the Imperial Japanese Navy, was captured by the American 1st Marine Division. At that time it became the main project of the Seabees of Naval Construction Battalion 6. Control of the airstrip was the focus of months of fighting in the Battle for Henderson Field during the Guadalcanal campaign of World War II and the Seabees ensured that the airstrip remained operational throughout the battle. Henderson Field was named for Marine Major Lofton Henderson, commanding officer of VMSB-241, who was the first Marine aviator killed in action at the Battle of Midway while leading his squadron in an attack against Japanese carrier forces.

The field was abandoned after the war, but reopened in 1969 as an international, civilian airport. The airport routinely accommodates the Airbus A320.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Niugini Nadi, Port Moresby
Fiji Airways Nadi, Port Vila[2]
Solomon Airlines Afutara, Arona, Atoifi, Auki, Bellona, Brisbane, Fera, Gizo, Kagau, Kirakira, Marau, Nadi, Port Vila, Ramata, Seghe, Suavanao, Tarawa
Virgin Australia Brisbane

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
HeavyLift Cargo Airlines Brisbane, Cairns
Pacific Air Express Brisbane
Aerial view of Honiara International Airport looking to east

References

  1. "HONIARA INTL". World Aero Data. WorldAeroData.com. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  2. 2018, UBM (UK) Ltd. "Fiji Airways Resumes Solomon Islands Service from Feb 2015".CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)


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