Boeing 737 Max 9 aircraft

The Cabinet has decided to look for another Boeing 737-800 to continue its service once the lease of the current 737-800 aircraft from an Italian company expires at the end of the month.

Prime Minister, Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi revealed the decision in his weekly radio interview, adding that the Minister responsible for Samoa Airways was negotiating whether the lease of the current aircraft can be extended while looking for another plane.

Samoa Airways is scheduled to take delivery of the Max 9 in April.

However, the Minister of Public Enterprises Lautafi Selafi Purcell has told Newsline Samoa that they cannot afford to do that now.

His statement came after the weekend crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Max 8 which resulted in the deaths of 157 people.

Five months earlier a Lions Air Max 8 also crashed, killing all on board.

Lautafi has shared his safety worries about the new aircraft with Samoa Airways.

European authorities have suspended flights involving both the Max 8 and Max 9 planes.