30 Apr 2013

Samoa Air gets green light to use Fagali'i airport

10:34 am on 30 April 2013

Samoa Air will begin using Apia's Fagali'i Airport in Samoa for flights to American Samoa from Wednesday.

At present the airline is flying to the American territory from Maota airport in Savaii and Faleolo, Upolu's main airport.

Polynesian Airlines, the state carrier which owns Fagali'i, had objected to its competitor's use of the airport but according to Samoa Air's Chief Executive, Chris Langton, the carrier has had a change of heart and he believes the Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi had something to do with it.

Mr Langton told KHJ News that the green light for Samoa Air to use Fagali'i is in line with the Samoa Government's assurance from the start of its company that it will have unrestricted use of Fagali'i airport.

Samoa Air will have one daily flight from Fagali'i to American Samoa's Tafuna airport but will add a second daily flight later in the week.