Samoa Airways

The overhaul of the flight menu is part of an ongoing process in reviewing the entire inflight product service out of Samoa.

It is one of many changes that Samoa Airways General Manager Commercial, Robert Rounds, has initiated to meet evolving and changing customer expectations in a tough aviation market.

“This airline is about people and we want to ensure that our valued passengers receive a positive and authentic Samoan experience on board Samoa Airways, ”Rounds said.

The losses were outlined in a performance report submitted to the Ministry of Public Enterprises, which oversees the finances of public bodies. 

 The report says “other operations” generated a profit of $1,455,954(US$546,713)

 The jet operation ran at a loss of $6,640,178 (US$2,486,606) which led to a year-to-date net loss for the airline of $4,805,440(US$1,799,536). 

 This was due to an increase in spending for the jet operation.

 Jet fuel spending for the quarter also exceeded its budget, says the report. 

The meeting, hosted by Samoan council group VICSAC on Monday night was a first in Melbourne for a representative of the Samoa national carrier.

Not only did the meeting bring the Melbourne Samoan wider community together, but it became an emotional reunion for a community that had been divided. 

Samoa Airways earlier this year was granted an exemption by the U.S Department of Transportation to operate Manu’a flights for 180 days, while deferring the remainder of its 12 month exemption request.

The airline’s latest request, through its Washington D.C. attorneys, seeks exemption for cabotage operations through 11 Feb, 2020, according to Samoa Airways’ request which also states that its service is supported by ASG.

Both Fiji Airways and Samoa Airways hired versions of the Boeing 737 MAX, which were grounded in March after two fatal crashes.

The plane's manufacturer, Boeing, this month acknowledged a new software issue with the MAX, but would not say how or if it would affect the plane.

Samoa Airways said it was monitoring developments with the MAX, and that it was finalising options to replace the 737-800 it had leased.

Fiji Airways said it had been in regular contact with Boeing and that it had confidence in the manufacturer to fix the problems.

The walk-in sales office is situated within the Samoa Consulate at Suite 1, Ground Floor 45–47 Scott Street, Liverpool and operates Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

According to CEO Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala ‘the Liverpool office is part of our strategic development plan and the outlet will allow us to more effectively engage with our customer-base in a region that is growing rapidly and is easily accessible for our community’.

The UTOS Independence Draw will see the awarding of 2 x Apia - Sydney return tickets and 2 x Apia - Auckland or vice-versa return tickets on Samoa’s national carrier.

The Unit Trust of Samoa was set up in 2010 to provide the people of Samoa the opportunity to invest in a diversified portfolio of assets. 

The entire fleet of Boeing Max jets has been grounded world-wide after two of the planes crashed in separate incidents earlier this year.

There's no indication of when the fleet will be allowed to fly again, as Boeing waits for regulators to approve new flight control software.

Samoa's public enterprises minister said the small national carrier is looking to hire a Boeing 737-800 from a US company, or to extend the lease on the 737 it's currently operating.

The airline was re-launched in 2017 after starting life as Polynesian Airlines in 1959.

The former chair, Fe'esago George Fepulea'i, resigned last week raising questions about the future of the enterprise.

But the 82-year-old said it was right time for him to step aside.

  The airline said the Boeing 737-800NG aircraft has been leased from Malindo Air which is owned by the Indonesian Lion Air Group and based in Malaysia.

It has now gained regulatory approvals from the civil aviation authorities in Australia, New Zealand, Samoa and Malaysia.

Samoa Airways CEO, Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala, said he was delighted to resume international jet services between Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.