Unity Airlines first to test new runway lights at Santa Cruz Airport

February 3, 2026 10:15 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

Unity Airlines became the first airline to test the newly installed runway and apron lighting at Santa Cruz Airport in the Solomon Islands.

The flight, departing from Santo, took just 2.5 hours, marking Unity Airlines’ first operation to the airport, although other operators have flown there before.

Starting from Port Vila, the mission included a brief stop in Santo to clear customs and top up fuel. The airline said the aircraft, a BN-2A-26 Islander, consumes approximately 110 litres of fuel per hour. Because there is currently no fuel available at Santa Cruz Airport, the airline carried enough fuel for the round trip and for engineers’ test flights.

The flight included both daytime and night evaluations, with Unity’s Chief Pilot returning after dark to assess the lighting system and visual approach aids. Engineers accompanied the flight to inspect the installation, making it the first night-time aircraft operation at Santa Cruz Airport.

Unity Airlines, the only commercial operator in Vanuatu conducting routine night operations—including medical evacuations—described the trip as “a short flight” compared to its previous long-haul operations. The airline has flown aircraft from Greece, Africa, Japan, Hawaii, Tahiti, and other destinations across the Pacific and Atlantic, including 17-hour flights from Hawaii to the USA and onward to Caribbean islands.

Looking ahead, Unity Airlines noted that discussions are ongoing between the Vanuatu and Solomon Islands governments about increasing trade between the Torres Islands and Santa Cruz, though details remain limited.

The flight represents a meaningful step forward for regional aviation, demonstrating Unity Airlines’ capability to safely support specialised operations in the Pacific.