The head of Samoa's new airline Samoa Air says plans to move its base to Moata Airport on the island of Savai'i is progressing faster than expected.
The carrier began domestic services between Upolu and Savai'i islands last month but is based at Apia's Fagali'i airport on Upolu.
The airline hopes to begin direct flights between Savai'i and Pago Pago in American Samoa in September.
The Chief Executive Officer of Samoa Air, Chris Langton, says it was always intended for the airline to base itself at Moata because it is most central to other airfields in Samoa and American Samoa.
"Initially I would've thought six months to maybe 12 months would've been the time frame. But it was pretty obvious from just local discussions, in particular our meeting with the operators in Savai'i that it will be better off for everybody if we achieve that a lot quicker. So we've initiated that now and I expect that we'll be pretty much housed in their within a month."
