31 Dec 2018

Samoa airline eyes Manu'a expansion

12:53 pm on 31 December 2018
One of Talofa Airways Twin Commander aircraft

One of Talofa Airways Twin Commander aircraft Photo: RNZI/Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia

Samoa's Talofa Airways is eyeing an expansion of services to the Manu'a islands now it has a new second aircraft.

The nine-seat Twin Otter plane arrived in the territory last week and is capable of servicing the small runways in the outer islands.

It's already flying between Samoa and American Samoa, and Talofa Airways' chair, Toleafoa Jeffrey Hunter, says the airline is looking to expand in early 2019.

"I've always wanted to do the Manu'a, but we had a problem with the other aircraft so we couldn't do it with the one airplane," he said.

"And with now the second aircraft, I'm sure we're able to add the Manu'a in February, March next year."