Talofa Airways

Talofa Airways awaiting American Samoa approval

The airline is asking the Department of Transportation to renew its federal exemption to operate flights in the territory for an additional 180-days.

Talofa Airways last got an exemption in October, but for just 30 days.

Talofa said while it had planned to initiate service at the end of October, it had not yet been able to base aircraft and crew in Pago Pago due to the American Samoa Government's restrictions related to the Covid-19 emergency.

At the moment the only domestic air service in American Samoa is provided by Samoa Airways.

     

Talofa Airways to fly in American Samoa

The flights, to and from the Manu'a island group, have been approved by the US Department of Transportation.

Last month Talofa Airways requested an expedited processing of its application, which claimed that an exemption of federal cabotage was in the public interest and would prevent undue hardship to the territory's residents.

Talofa Airways said it planned to start flights next week, after its request for initial 30 day period.

Samoan airline helps ferry Kiribati MPs to parliament

Before the Covid-19 lockdown, Talofa Airways was flying between Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

According to the Samoa Observer newspaper, the Clerk of the Kiribati Parliament confirmed the chartered Talofa Airways plane had left Apia on Monday.

It was due to make at least four stops to pick up several MPs before Parliament sat.

Meanwhile 207 Kiribati citizens registered with their government as being stranded overseas and in need of repatriation.

They were registered in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, USA, New Zealand and Taiwan.

Samoa to Wallis air link mooted

But the public broadcaster in the French territory said there had to be a bilateral agreement between France and Samoa first.

The approval process then needs to go through aviation authorities in Paris, who will also check with the airline on safety issues.

The airport in Wallis is only served by New Caledonia's international airline although an agreement exists between Fiji and France, which would allow Fiji Airways to open air links.

There is no need for an air services agreement in the case of charter flights.

     

Talofa Airways resumes flights after grounding

A statement from the Apia-based airline says scheduled flights to and from American Samoa will commence on Monday Samoa time and Sunday in American Samoa.

Talofa Airways was grounded by the Samoa Civil Aviation Authority following an incident on April 24 with its Turbo Commando aircraft.

The flight from Fagalii to Pago Pago was diverted to Faleolo after the pilot noticed an engine issue.

The brakes overheated and burned after the pilot worked to slow down the engine on landing, according to the airline's CEO Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter.

Engine trouble led to Talofa Airways suspension

Samoa's civil aviation authorities suspended the Apia-based airline's flights pending an investigation.

Talofa Airways chief executive Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said the flight from Fagalii to Pago Pago was diverted to Faleolo after the pilot noticed an engine issue.

The right engine was not responding properly to pilot actions and the plane was diverted so the engine could be checked but would not slow down after landing, Toleafoa said.

"The pilot worked the brakes, just enough to help counter the engine but the brakes overheated and burned," he said.

Talofa Airways flights suspended

The Samoa Civil Aviation Authority suspended flights by the Apia-based company after yesterday's incident.

An airline spokesperson said brake pads overheated after landing and there was smoke.

The spokesperson said passengers were evacuated safely to the terminal and transported to Fagalii Airport.

Passengers were accommodated on Samoa Airways to American Samoa.

The Civil Aviation Authority has suspended services until an expert from NZ arrives to investigate the incident.

 

     

Direct Pago-Tonga flights welcomed

For the local Tongan community, the twice weekly flights on Sundays and Thursdays, is a much less burden — especially on the financial side — on having to travel via Samoa and Fiji to get to Tonga.

Using its nine-seater passenger aircraft, Talofa Airways launched Sunday morning its inaugural direct-flight from Pago Pago International Airport to Tonga’s capital of Nuku’alofa.

Talofa Airways launches its inaugural flight to Tonga

Airline spokesman Taua Fatu Tielu says travel between Tonga, Samoa and American Samoa is a nightmare.

Taua said their core customers are Tongan and Samoan travellers between those three locations, including members of expatriate communities there who want to visit home for a short vacation.

He said they would explore Niue, Wallis and Futuna and Pukapuka in the northern Cooks as possible future destinations.

 

Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia Talofa Airways staff at the launch of the airline  

Talofa flights to Tonga scheduled for this month

The fights will operate on Mondays and Friday from Fagali'i Airport to Tongatapu.

The flights from Pago Pago International Airport in American Samoa will operate on Sundays and Thursdays local time.

RNZi reports the flights come less than a year since Talofa started operations.

In a statement the airline's CEO Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter said Talofa Airways was now ready to provide the much needed direct air services between Tonga and the two Samoas.

He said it was his hope to expand the service to Niue, Wallis & Futuna and other neighbouring islands.