HOPES FOR SAMOA AIRWAY’S RETURN SOARS
By: Joshua Lafoa’i
Government is far from giving up hope for Samoa Airways to return to the skies to resume its international services despite the uncertainty surrounding the COVID19 pandemic affecting international travel globally.
The reassurances is from Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi during a briefing with the Savali news team Monday morning in his office.
“The airlines management is looking at all possible and best options available for our national carrier to secure a decent and affordable dry lease agreement to secure an aircraft,” reassured the Prime Minister adding that Government is also mindful that the COVID19 is a deteriorating component in the on-going negotiations which has led to unilateral delays in sealing an agreement.
“The latest report from Samoa Airways targets October or early November for the leased aircraft to be delivered but that is tentative and can change,” he said.
He said that delays in the acquisition of a lease aircraft is not a discouragement instead it’s fueling the national carrier’s determination to get back to work as soon as the COVID19 pandemic is over.
“The national carrier’s long term vision and targets including securing two Boeing aircraft for the international routes to New Zealand, Australian and Hawaii,” he said. “To have a fleet or more than 2 planes is an option that Samoa Airways is entertaining at this point in time due to the high financial and collateral risks if another pandemic strikes.”
He noted that concentrating on the New Zealand, Australia and Hawaii routes is the best option recommended after a marketing research by Samoa Airways reaffirmed that the three destinations are the highest traditional profitable locations for the national carrier.
Regional and inter-island travel between Samoa, American Samoa and neighboring Pacific Islands countries are also contained in the Samoa Airways “blueprint and long term strategy,” continued the Prime Minister.
For instance, lease purchase agreements for either ATR42 or DASG8-100 turbo-prop airplanes each with a capacity of up to 50 passengers and cargo is in the blueprint to service the regional routes between Samoa, Cooks Island, Tonga, American Samoa and other neighboring Pacific Islands.
A CRJ-Jet with passenger loading of 50 is also under national carrier’s scanner.
The inter-island and regional flights will utilize the Ti’avea Airport currently under construction to complement Faleolo International Airport.
