23 August 2016
New Airline for Samoa
Samoa’s newest airline ‘Talofa Airways’ was officially launched yesterday in a ceremony held at the Fagalii airfield, with the Prime Minister unveiling the name of the first aircraft in the fleet – a Twin Commander by the name of ‘Laititi ae Maini’.
Owned by local businesswoman Mrs Maria Westerlund-Hunter and her husband Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, the airline will service the route between Samoa and American Samoa.
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi gave the keynote address and congratulated the Westerlund-Hunter family for their achievement and fulfilment of a long-held dream.
“The public and government will now expect that inter-island travel will be more efficient, competitive and better overall due to the frequency of flights between the two Samoas.
“I am confident that improved access will enhance opportunities for our people and tourists who wish to experience the two Samoas.”
Chairman and Chief Executive of Talofa Airways, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter in his remarks said the airline concept started when his family moved back to Samoa in 1996.
“Knowing the cost and the challenges of starting up an airline, and knowing the complexities involved, we still went ahead with our plans and started investing,” said Toleafoa.
Talofa Airways will fly between Fagalii, Samoa and Pago Pago, American Samoa.
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