Samoa's minister of civil aviation Olo Fiti Va'ai has told parliament that the government will reopen the Fagali'i airstrip.
The deputy opposition leader Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo questioned the minister about the safety of the short runway which had been the catalyst for the closure by the previous government.
Olo said they plan to use government land west of the runway to extend it.
The Member of Parliament for Vaimauga 1, Sulamanaia Fetaiai Tauiliili in previous parliament sessions requested the Minister to relook at reopening this airport to continue its' benefits to the country.
The airstrip has been through many closures, with Sunday flights affected because of complaints from nearby villages of noise during church services.
The recent closure came after planes had gone over the runway proper and nearly crashed into the security fencing.
Challenges:
According to the Minister, the airport was initially operated by the Samoa Airport Authority before it was passed on to the Polynesian Airlines.
It was later operated again by the Samoa Airport Authority which Olo highlighted that this is due to uncertain long term planning made for the management of the airport.
The airport is now currently under operations of the Ministry of Police Prisons and Corrections Services for its' traffic division.
Benefits:
Olo recalled that some of the profits from the airport while it was in operation for tourists was the employment of people and attraction of tourists mainly from American Samoa who travel in for golf sport.
"Most of the golfers back then were from American Samoa who fly in for golf and fly back because it was convenient," he said.
"It also used to have food stalls and taxi operators employed in that terminal which was a huge benefit for the country."
Safety:
Human Rights Protection Party's deputy leader, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo in Parliament queried the safety of the airport if it reopens.
According to Olo, the risky side of the airport is due to short landing strips.
He added that the airport can be expanded to government lands on the east and south sides of the airport which is enough to expand the landing strips.
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