Samoa Airways

The first service was scheduled to begin today (Saturday).

In a statement, the airline said it is looking to launch the service on Friday, 9 October.

Samoa Airways is also looking at the possibility of additional services for the White Sunday long weekend.

Flights between Faleolo and Maota in Salelologa had been previously announced to begin today (Friday).

However, according the airline has taken to social media to announce that the services will now start on 11 September 2020.

Travellers should note, however, that the $89 tala one-way fare is for travel and bookings until 8 October or until seats run out.

The service will operate on Mondays and Fridays.

The airline’s CEO Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala said, "The launch of Savai’i services is to support growing demand for a more convenient travel option to and from the market. It is also a way to build support for local corporate businesses and considering the current pandemic, a way to support local tourism operators with a quick weekend get away from 'Upolu' option.

He also stated, "The service is a good example of our Government’s commitment to improving travel for our own people".

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He said the airline has withdrawn all services till end of June 2020 to comply with government sanctioned flight bans.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