Samoa Airways to launch scheduled domestic flights

Samoa Airways (OL, Apia Faleolo) has announced it will launch its first domestic route, between Apia Faleolo and Maota Savai’i Island, on August 28, 2020, to support the country’s ailing domestic travel industry. Flights will be operated 2x weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, with the carrier’s DHC-6-300s. Samoa Airways said it would work with the domestic travel industry to prepare weekend holiday packages on Savai’i island. “The airline intends to work towards continued growth in the tourism industry. The current pandemic does see us pushing local tourism harder; however, the operation sets the base for Savai’i to be market ready when borders do open up,” General Manager (Commercial) Leuluaialii Robert Rounds said. Savai’i and the main island, Upolu, on which Apia is located, are separated by the 13-kilometre wide Apolima Strait. Ferry crossing takes about 90 minutes each way. Apia Faleolo and Maota Savai’i Island airports are located 40 kilometres apart with a scheduled flight time of 10 minutes. There are no other airlines serving Maota Savai’i. Apia Faleolo is Samoa’s sole international gateway. Samoa Airways also operates domestic flights within American Samoa (between Pago Pago, Ofu, and Fitiuta).