Port Administration as well as Chamber of Commerce have voiced support of the proposed new inter Samoa service by Apia-based Talofa Airways Limited, which also plans to expand service beyond Pago Pago.

Talofa Airways, a start-up airline, filed an application last month with the US Transportation Department (USDOT) to operate between Apia and Pago Pago and points beyond Pago Pago such as Vavau and Nuku’alofa in Tonga. The airline, using two nine-passenger seat aircraft, is also proposing all-cargo services. (See Samoa News edition Mar. 29 for details.)

According to electronic government records, a copy of Talofa Airways’ application has been forwarded to ASG Port Administration director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Poumele, who told Samoa News that a letter of support from Port Administration to USDOT is not required.

“However, I am in support of Talofa Airways offering additional routes in the Pacific region,” she explained. “Whenever we have opportunities to elevate air transportation in our region, the Pacific islands should be supportive of the initiatives. It's about social and economic development.”

Taimalelagi said, “The different routes could also provide a link with our islands which would benefit the economic development in our territory.”

Samoa News last week forwarded questions to Chamber president Francine Gaisoa for comments and reaction from Chamber members to the new airline service. In written response provided Monday this week, the members said, that “anything that will bring more aircraft, more people, more tourism to American Samoa is good.”

On the proposed flights to Tonga, the members said it would “give us the only East/West connection in many years.”

(Samoa News notes that several years ago, there was air service connecting Pago Pago to Vavau and Nuku’alofa by the former Tongan carrier, Friendly Island Airways. There were also connections by the now defunct South Pacific Island Airways and later, Polynesian Airlines operated flights to Vavau. Air Pacific, now Fiji Airways, also provided direct flights from Vavau to Pago Pago several years ago.)

“This is welcome news to the Tourism industry and hopefully will lead to further expansion to Rarotonga, Niue and Fiji,” said Chamber members.

“We had these services over 40 years ago, and since they were discontinued for various reasons, access to American Samoa has not been easy, with only two direct flights from Honolulu each week and nothing from any other major tourist source.

“Furthermore, any additional airline service will hopefully provide competitive airfares and freight charges and this will make both the business community and the traveling public happy,” they said.

Asked if the proposed air service will improve economic development for the territory, the members responded, “Yes, most definitely, economic development WILL improve. How? Well, if we have more people coming in from different parts of the world, we will need to open up our beaches every day to have these tourists enjoy them.”

“Opening up the beaches will also lead to… water sports and beachside restaurants and bars opening up, bringing in more money to our local businesses,” the members said, adding that if “Talofa Airways operated a larger aircraft maybe the economic impact might be more significant.”

“Nonetheless, there might be a slight increase in tourists and a few new jobs should be created” with Talofa Airways service, they say.

Asked for any other comments, the Chamber members said it would really help the local tourism industry “if our government revisits our immigration policy.”

“We need to make it easier for visitors to come to our islands. Yes, there may be some over-stayers but don't throw everyone into the same boat,” says the Chamber. “We need to try to fix the small problems, and at the same time, see what we can do to open up our doors to visitors who may in turn spend a lot of money locally and feed our economy.”

USDOT is accepting public comments on Talofa Airways petition till Apr. 15. However, the airline, through its Washington D.C. attorneys, informed USDOT in a Mar. 30 letter that the airline has polled US air carriers about its proposed service “and received no objections.”

“Accordingly, we respectfully request expedited consideration of this Application,” the airline said.

Among the US carriers polled by Talofa Airways are Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and American Airline,s as well as US air cargo companies United Parcel Service and Federal Express, according to documents filed with federal portal www.regulations.gov

Polynesian Airlines has been the sole provider of air service on the inter-Samoa route since the middle of 2014. It is also providing flights to Manu’a on consecutive 30-day cabotage waivers granted by USDOT, since there is still no US carrier providing American Samoa’s domestic flights.

The current 30-day waiver ends Apr. 24 and Polynesian Airlines yesterday requested another 30-day cabotage waiver through May 23, 2016. USDOT is expected to issue a response before the end of this month.