Samoa Airways

Chief Executive Officer, Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala made the clarification in response to recent media enquiries regarding the airlines’ online bookings website.

He said the airline has withdrawn all services till end of June 2020 to comply with government sanctioned flight bans.

A further review will be undertaken again next month in consultation with our Government.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi told national radio 2AP it's probably the right time to end the lease.

The national airline last week suspended all flights indefinitely.

The 737-800 had been leased from Malindo Air because of delays caused by the worldwide grounding of the 737-Max aircraft.

Tuilaepa said the Covid-19-related groundings provided a good time to find a better plane.

“I remember thinking; these aren’t butterflies – these are more like dragons!” said Faanafi “the turbulence was a little scary and it felt like my stomach was in my chest – but it was fun.”

With just over 5% of airline pilots worldwide being female, Fanaafi is “flying” the path less travelled as the only female pilot at Samoa Airways, working in a traditionally male dominant industry.

From Monday, both Samoa Airways and Talofa Airways will each only conduct two flights each day between Samoa and American Samoa instead of the current four.

All charter flights into American Samoa will be denied until further notice.

Talofa Airways' weekly flight between American Samoa and Tonga will also be suspended.

All entry permits have also suspended except for returning residents.

A Cabinet decision paper was leaked to the Samoa Observer proposing to close the route, serviced by Fiji Airways, down and force passengers to fly via New Zealand using Samoa Airways.

However, this week the government newspaper Savali reported Tuilaepa saying the decision was to promote proactive talks between the two airlines and revive discussions about a code-sharing agreement that had never been implemented.

As Polynesian Airlines, the Samoan carrier used to fly from Fagalii to Maota airports as well as Asau but the service was discontinued in the late 1990's.

At one time, there were also direct flights from American Samoa to Savai'i.

According to a press statement, the new flights aim to develop the tourism market on Savai'i.

Samoa Airways chief executive, Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala, said that it was a good time to make new routes and offer more options to their customers.

Minister of Public Enterprises Lautafi Selafi Purcell has told the Samoa Observer the airline had secured an extension to its wet lease until May 2020.

He said the new extension had a clause to allow the airline to pull out before May if they find another aircraft but added the search for a replacement plane has been challenging.

He said they may have to find an older plane which would be costly with maintenance if they can't secure a similar one to the Malindo Air plane they currently lease.

POLi Pay has gone live on the Samoa Airways website and is available to customers in New Zealand and Australia, who can now securely pay for their travel using online bank transfer.

Samoa Airways General Manager Commercial, Robert Rounds says that the new online payment solution was introduced to give customers more payment options and enhance their travel experience with Samoa Airways,

Lautafi Fio Purcell, the minister responsible for Samoa Airways, told parliament the airline plans to replace the current 19 seat Twin Otter with a 50 seat plane.

Lautafi said the airline would then look at new destinations in Tonga, Fiji and Tokelau.

Apia's Fagali'i airport, which could only be used by smaller aircraft, closed at the end of 2019 and now all flights to Samoa operate out of the larger Faleolo International.

Currently only Samoa Airways and privately owned Talofa Airways fly between the two Samoas.

Lolo Moliga has reportedly sent a letter to US President Donald Trump requesting a one year waiver from the cabotage rule to allow Samoa Airways to take passengers from American Samoa to Hawaii and the US mainland.

The cabotage rule currently prohibits a foreign airline from operating direct flights between two US points.

Last year, airline chief executive Tupuivao Alvin Tuala and board member Tuia Paepae Letoa discussed their plans for the US route with American Samoan officials.