Kiribati and Solomon Islands have agreed on a new Air Service Agreement.
Solomon Airlines Photo: Supplied
Under the agreement Solomon Airlines and Air Kiribati and each countries' civil aviation authorities will cooperate to promote aviation as a sector.
This formalises months of negotiations between the countries to start a new extended service by Solomon Airlines in association with Air Kiribati from Honiara to Tarawa.
The Solomon Times reports the new service will commence as soon as 'visa-on-arrival' procedures for Kiribati passport holders are approved by Honiara.
The agreement was reached after a Kiribati delegation including senior government and aviation officials as well as Air Kiribati representatives met with their Solomon Islands counterparts in Honiara.
In the past eighteen months, Solomon Airlines has reached similar aviation agreements with three other regional carriers - Air Niugini, Air Vanuatu and Qantas.
While in Honiara, the Kiribati delegation also held meetings with the office of Solomon Islands Maritime and Shipping.
They are reportedly looking at an agreement which will see Honiara become a pivotal and strategic partner to expand shipping to and from the Republic of Kiribati.