2 Dec 2005

French Polynesian plane joins fleet in American Samoa

10:15 am on 2 December 2005

The fleet of small planes at Pago Pago International Airport has increased by one with a Dornier aircraft that was leased by Air Tahiti arriving at Tafuna.

Industry sources say that the aircraft may end up staying or it would be ferried to another island country or back to its owners.

It all depends on finance.

Industry sources say Inter-Island Air is interested in acquiring the aircraft but has not been able to finalize financing.

Inter-Island Air officials were at the airport to await the arrival of the plane which was ferried from Papeete.

The local airline already has a Dornier and if it does acquire the Air Tahiti aircraft, it will have three aircraft.

The airline also has a Britten Norman Islander.

There is apparently another interested buyer for the aircraft in New Caledonia.