Midweek interview with Solomon Airlines’ Raquel Oliveira

Midweek interview with Solomon Airlines’ Raquel Oliveira

This week, we chatted with Solomon Airline’s national sales manager about the time she used Brazilian dance martial arts to avoid serious injury in a car crash. Find out how here.

The challenge for the industry is…

For airlines to keep up with customer expectations. Being a small airline in a remote part of the Pacific, we are constantly working hard to improve customer experience.

The things I like about my job are…

I sell dreams and experiences to people…I love the fact that when people travel, the world becomes closer and more connected. At  Solomon Airlines we bring communities together by flying to remote places and covering 23 destinations within the ‘Hapi Isles’.

And the frustrations are …

People don’t accept change easily. I see it as an opportunity to say: “How can I approach this in a different way to encourage change?”

If I didn’t work in travel, I would be…

An industrial Designer, being creative.

My favourite airline is…

That’s easy! Solomon Airlines.

There are 992 islands in the Solomons …We can find one for you!

My proudest moment was…

Achieving an advanced belt in Capoeira (Brazilian dance martial arts).

The naughtiest thing I ever did was…

Tell people that I travelled to more than 30 countries.

I try to relax by…

Setting on my deck in the morning and doing meditation.

The last time I feared for my life was…

When I had a bike accident in West End, Brisbane. I got hit by a car, went flying through the air and ended up in hospital. Luckily my Capoeira skills helped me to roll and land safely.

If I can, I always try to avoid…

Traffic jams.

I really wish I had…

More time for travel and to socialise with friends.

The best advice I’ve ever received was…

From my Mum – to move to Austria when I was 21 years old. I met my husband there and now have two beautiful children.

I don’t understand why people…

Don’t keep it simple. It takes more effort in being complicated.

My greatest weakness is…

Chocolate…I melt

And my greatest strength is…

My personality…I make friends easily and find ways to connect with people.

 If I won a $1 million lottery (aside from travelling), I would…

Buy a house on the beach.

If I was prime minister, I would…

Invest more in fighting climate change.

If I could be someone else for one day I would be a…

Musician. I love music and the way it can bring people together.

I’ve always wanted to travel to…

Madagascar.

My favourite holiday was…

Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. It’s a city full of natural wonders and complex urban life. It is a place that offers so many different experiences.

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