Snafu in the Solomons

For the time being, if you want to fly from North America to dive with the Bilikiki or any of the landbased resorts in the Solomon Islands, you must fly through Brisbane, Australia, or Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The normal route via Nadi, Fiji, to the Solomons' capital city of Honiara has been shut down for at few weeks because of a dispute between the Solomon Islands government and Fiji Airways.

Jenny Collister, owner of Reef & Rainforest Dive and Adventure Travel in Portland, OR, says she has rearranged at least 10 trips for customers who were flying through Fiji. "Most who have been affected had their tickets already, and those who are traveling in the future hope it will be sorted out." The Bilikiki has been picking up passengers late to accommodate their flight changes.

The dispute between the two countries began when the Solomons' Civil Aviation Authority refused a Fiji Airways request for extra flights to Honiara. Fiji Airways retaliated by stopping some flights from the Solomon Islands. Now, all flights between the two countries have stopped. Fiji Airways is refunding canceled flights or making new arrangements, and covering the increased cost of flying from Nadi to Brisbane and on to Honiara.