2nd Philippines repatriation flight arriving tomorrow

The second repatriation flight to the Philippines is expected back in the country after the national carrier Solomon Airlines left this morning for Manila.

Solomon Airlines has confirmed to SBMOnline that the aircraft had left this morning and will be overnight in Manila and is expected back in Honiara tomorrow evening.

Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr Jimmie Rodgers also confirmed that the Manila flight is expected back in Honiara tomorrow.

This will be the second repatriation flight to bring home our students who had been quarantined for the past months in Manila hotels.

The first repatriation flight was in September. Five of the students who returned on the flight were tested positive for COVID-19. SBMOnline understands that they had underwent obligatory quarantine time and after the required negative test results they had been released to their families.

Solomon Islands has so far recorded 17 COVID-19 cases mostly from returning nationals from the United Kingdom and the Philippines.

Tomorrow’s flight was scheduled for later part of last month but was cancelled at the last minute after six of the passengers booked for the flight were tested positive for COVID-19. It is still not clear how many nationals will board the flight from the Philippines tomorrow.

One of the students from the Philippines told SBMOnline they are looking forward to returning home and waiting for so long.

The third repatriation flight from the Philippines is planned for early January.

News@SBMOnline2020