(Photo Taken from the new taxi-way looking towards the new International departure terminal on the right and the extended apron on the left)
By Douglas Saefoa
The Pacific Games in 2023 is just around the corner, a catalyst that has sparked abrupt developments within the extremities of Honiara City and to some extent Guadalcanal Province, which host the capital.
Behind the huge spectacle of preparations, especially with games infrastructure, the Japanese government has committed to ensure that two of its key Grant Aid Projects: the Honiara International Airport Improvement Project and the Kukum Highway Phase II project are completed before the opening of the Games in November 2023.
The Honiara International Airport Improvement Project was signed on 15 June 2018 and worth around SBD$445 million. The project was deemed necessary to enhance connectivity and boost social and economic development.
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in charge of the Project since inception, revealed that despite all odds since the project restarted last year, a lot has been achieved.
The Rehabilitation of the existing International Apron and Taxiway has been completed under the supervision of Gyros, Ehira A&E and OCG JV, the project consultant and Kitano Construction Corporation in partnership with the Ministry of Communication and Aviation.
The construction team scarified the existing pavement by 5cm and new asphalt pavement laying was done in the entire area of the existing international apron and taxiway to ensure the soundness of the pavement.
Expansion of the existing international apron and construction of the new taxiway adjacent to the existing apron and taxiway had also been completed along with the installation of new airfield lighting.
The designated expanded apron area is four times wider than that of the previous apron covering an expanded area of at least 24,000 square meters with apron floodlights, taxiway edge lights and signs already installed.
The existing aircraft parking could only cater for (2 International flights). The new Aircraft parking stands will now cater for 4 stands for (International flights) and 6 stands for (domestic flights).
Another component within the project was construction of flood protection facilities, given recent experiences where heavy rains usually caused flooding at both airport terminals.
A flood protection dike has been constructed at the low area at the south side of the runway while flap gates have been installed at the ends of the existing airport drainage.
Construction of new international departure terminal building has progressed steadily and according to a spokesperson for Gyro, the building is already 70 percent into completion. Currently Local electrical company Guadalcanal Electrics Limited (GEL) has been sub-contracted to undertake electrical wiring of the building.
The new International Departure terminal has a total area space of 2,415 square meters. A single-storied (Partly 2 storied) steel frame structure that will soon have the capacity of processing 2 International Departures at a time.
Renovation works is also ongoing at the existing International Terminal building. According to JICA, improvement works are being done inside the building which will be used for both international arrival terminal and domestic terminal.
The overall project is expected to be completed in 2023.
Solomon Islands 
Papua New Guinea 
