SUVA, Sept. 21 (Xinhua) -- Samoa Airways will make her international debut to Auckland, New Zealand from Faleolo International Airport in the capital of Samoa on Nov. 14, 2017.
Confirming this on Thursday, Lautafi Fio Purcell, minister responsible for Polynesian Airlines, said on the Samoan Observer news website that "as advertised, Samoa Airways will have six flights a week between Auckland and Faleolo and twice a week between Faleolo and Sydney."
The 737-800 leased from Iceland Air is scheduled to arrive on Nov.12 with the following day set aside for the christening formalities before Samoa Airways makes her inaugural flight.
The initial lease agreement with Iceland Air was a wet lease that included pilots and stewards for the aircraft, Purcell said, adding that the tentative plan is for a wet lease on the long run which will see Samoa Airways outfitting the airlines with their own pilots and supporting staff.
The aircraft with a seating capacity for 172 including eight passengers in the business class will also have its logo painted on it when she arrives.
Samoa hopes to lease or acquire a 777-Mac aircraft by 2019 to expand Samoa Airways services to other destinations such as Melbourne and Brisbane in Australia.
In May, the Samoan government announced it was terminating the Virgin Samoa joint-venture between Virgin Australia and the country that was first established in 2005, and the decision was reportedly due to concerns over high fares.
A memorandum of understanding with Fiji Airways was signed in July to help establish Samoa Airways, with the current domestic carrier Polynesian Airlines to be part of the new venture.
Fiji Airways would continue to focus on Fiji-Samoa flights while Samoa Airways would focus on routes to New Zealand and Australia.
