Samoa Airways is excited to announce that it has added Brisbane, Australia to its list of destinations.
Just a few months shy of its one-year anniversary, the national carrier has announced that (subject to regulatory approval) it will fly direct between Apia and Brisbane, twice weekly, on Tuesday and Sunday, using its 737-800 aircraft.
The launch flight is scheduled to take off on November 13th to mark one year since Samoa Airways took to the skies.
It’s the latest milestone in the airline’s short history, and one which promises great potential.
“The Brisbane area is home to a large Samoan population and I am particularly pleased that the national carrier, with the support of Brisbane Airport, is able to respond to calls by our community who travel frequently between Samoa, American Samoa and Brisbane for family, church and cultural obligations, for improved air access”, said Tupuivao Seiluli Alvin Tuala, CEO of Samoa Airways.
At the announcement today, Tupuivao has signed a partnership agreement, acknowledging the relationship between Queensland and Samoa, and the collaborative approach by Brisbane Airport and the national carrier to establish non-stop air services, with Gert-Jan de Graaff, CEO of Brisbane Airport Corporation.
The Minister for Samoa Airways, Lautafi Selafi Purcell will deliver the official address on behalf of the Samoan government and Samoa Airways at this occasion in Brisbane.
A special event for the Samoan community in Brisbane will also be held in Ipswich today as part of this announcement.
Hon. Lautafi will also be the main speaker for this gathering.
CEO Tupuivao says Brisbane presents an excellent opportunity for Samoa Airways for many reasons.
Brisbane Airport is Australia's third busiest, with total annual passengers of 23 million in 2017.
It is a key gateway which serves 32 international ports and 52 domestic destinations and Brisbane Airport is an award winning airport offering world class facilities.
Brisbane also has a large and wealthy passenger catchment of around five million people.
This includes 2.3 million people in the Brisbane area which includes a strong and growing Samoan community.
Around 1.1 million people live in the surrounding regions which are within a 90 minute-drive, including the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast and northern New South Wales, with a further 1.6 million in northern and inland Queensland in areas such as Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.
Brisbane is also home to some of Australia’s well known travel brands and improved air access from this key gateway will support leisure tourism opportunities for Samoa as a destination.
The new flights will be available for bookings soon.
Photo supplied. Caption: - Samoa Airways and Brisbane Airport sign partnership agreement.
Top L-R: Tuia Pua Fuatogi Letoa (Board Director Samoa Airways), Hon. Lautafi Selafi Purcell (Minister for Samoa Airways), Andrew Brodie (GM Airline & Retail Management, Brisbane Airport)
Seated L-R: Gert-Jan de Graaff (CEO Brisbane Airport), Seiuli Alvin Tuala (CEO Samoa Airways)