Samoa Airways

Samoa Airways ready for inaugural flight to Auckland

The airline will finally join the international arena of airways in this modern era of technology both globally and within the Pacific Region, initially with flights between Samoa, NZ and Australia. 

The 737-800 aircraft arrived at Faleolo International Airport in Apia on Saturday morning completing its maiden trip from Europe where it was fitted with new livery.

Samoa Airways partners with AirFi for wireless in-flight entertainment

Customers will be able to enjoy complimentary movies, T.V shows and music onboard by streaming the airline’s ‘Faafiafiaga Entertainment’ channel with their mobile, tablet or laptop. 

Samoa Airways announced at Future Travel Experience Asia in Singapore that it will deploy AirFi’s portable wireless IFE on its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. 

According to Samoa Airways CEO, Seiuli Alvin Tuala, the IFE system will be a “cornerstone” of the carrier’s plans to modernize and reinvigorate the in-flight experience for passengers.

Samoa Airways prepares for NZ flights with plane from Iceland

The new airline will fly six times a week between Apia and Auckland from next Tuesday, stepping up to daily from December 17.

 

Samoa Airways is using a Boeing 737-800 leased from Icelandair Group with 170 seats, including eight in business class.

Last month the Samoan government refused an application by Virgin Australia to fly five times a week, affecting about 6000 passengers and causing concern in the travel industry about reduced competition on the route.

Samoa Airways 737-800 aircraft to arrive on Saturday

The aircraft will be depart Milan in Italy later this week and is scheduled to land at Faleolo International Airport on Saturday, 11 November. 

The route will be Milan-Dubai-Singapore-Cairns-Apia. 

The finishing touches to the livery were applied to the airline’s 737-800 over the weekend.

A government statement said an official launch ceremony will take place at Faleolo International Airport at 10am on Monday, 13 November. 

The airline’s inaugural jet service will be flight OL731 at 7am on Tuesday, 14 November from Apia to Auckland.

 

Samoa Airways explores Boeing 777 as next plane of choice

In a press release, the Minister responsible for Polynesian Airlines, Lautafi Fio Selafi Purcell indicated the airline will introduce the state of the art aircraft within a couple of years.

He said they hope to lease or acquire it by 2019 to expand Samoa Airways services to other destinations such as Melbourne and Brisbane.

Lautafi laid out the future plan by the airline as inaugural flights start on November 14 when the airlines leased plane, a 737-800 from Iceland Air, arrives at Faleolo and will then fly off to Auckland.

Samoa Airways partners with ’Island Living’ to produce ‘Malaga’ inflight magazine

‘Malaga’ will be a full gloss high quality publication containing information and stories about the Airline, its products and services, destinations and of course Beautiful Samoa.

The magazine will be published four times a year, beginning with the inaugural flight on 14th November.

‘Pacific Island Living’ is in its sixth year of production and is distributed widely across Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Micronesia.

Samoa Airways secures aircraft for international routes

According to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, the plan is for the airline to concentrate on the Apia Auckland, Apia-Sydney and Apia Brisbane routes.

“Research confirmed that the three routes have huge revenue potentials and it fits perfectly with our partnership with Fiji Airways. That partnership is designed for both airlines to share the revenues in terms of tickets sold,” Tuilaepa said according to a release from the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Samoa Airways reveals new logo

The logo which acknowledges the airline’s origins and links, features an adapted version of the iconic coconut tree which since 1959 has been the symbol of the National Carrier.

A statement said Samoa’s National Airline was the first and is still the only carrier in the South Pacific to use the coconut tree in its branding.

In the past, copra was a key part of Samoa’s economy and today the humble coconut and its numerous value-added by-products together with tourism play a vital role in Samoa’s social and economic development.

Name change for Polynesian Airlines, agreement with Fiji Airways

Polynesian Airlines will soon change to Samoa Airways according to Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi.

The national airline will also enter into a mutual arrangement with Fiji’s international carrier, Fiji Airways.

The arrangement will be formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding yet to be signed between the two parties as it remain subject to Cabinet approval, the Prime Minister revealed in his weekly television program, Taimi male Palemia, a production by Samoa Quality Broadcasting Limited or TV1.