Choiseul Bay Airport (CHY)

Choiseul Bay Airport (AGGC (CHY)) on Taro Island, Solomon Islands, primarily serves as a vital regional gateway to the remote Choiseul Province. While recent detailed traveler reviews are scarce, the overall sentiment described by available information points to it being a modest but essential entry point, currently undergoing significant infrastructure upgrades.

What Travelers Love (or Key Characteristics):

• Scenic Arrival: Travelers are greeted by lush greenery and breathtaking views characteristic of Taro Island, making for a serene entry experience.
• Essential Connectivity: The airport plays a crucial role in providing air connectivity to a remote region, linking Choiseul Province with Honiara.
• Friendly Staff (Implied): The airport's staff are generally described as ready to assist, aiming to make transitions smooth and enjoyable.
• Ongoing Upgrades: An upgrade project, funded by the governments of the Solomon Islands, New Zealand, and Australia, is underway to reconstruct and resurface the runway, aiming to accommodate larger DASH8 aircraft and improve reliability and safety with ground lighting. These improvements suggest an enhanced future traveler experience.

Common Complaints (or Known Limitations prior to/during upgrades):

• Lack of Contemporary Infrastructure: Prior to and during the upgrade project, the airport has been noted for lacking contemporary infrastructure due to its remote location.
• Temporary Disruptions due to Upgrades: Recent upgrade works, such as runway reconstruction and resurfacing in late 2023, led to temporary flight cancellations, requiring passengers to arrange sea transport to alternative airports for connecting flights.
• Basic Facilities: As a small regional airport, it has basic terminal facilities with limited amenities, as specific details on shops, restaurants, or lounges are not highlighted in available information.
• No Customs Facility: Choiseul Bay Airport is not listed as an airport of entry and does not have customs available, indicating it handles only domestic flights.

Choiseul Bay Airport is fundamental for access to Taro Island and the surrounding region, acting as a functional rather than a luxurious travel hub. With ongoing upgrades aimed at improving its core infrastructure, future traveler experiences are likely to see significant enhancements, particularly in terms of safety and aircraft capacity. However, detailed feedback on passenger experiences regarding terminal services, wait times, or ground transportation remains largely undocumented in recent public reviews.