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ASG will take back Segaula airplane if not flying by Dec

The Port Administration has given Inter Island Airways dba Manu’a Airways Executive President Barney Sene, up until next month December 2014 to get the Segaula operational, if not, the Port will take back the government airplane and revoke the memorandum of understanding signed between ASG and Sene, says Port Director, Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele.

 

Last month Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga wrote to Sene informing him the December 15, 2014 date provided by Sene for the Segaula to be operational is not acceptable, and instead gave Sene a 30-day notice as of last month.

 

In a letter to Sene, dated October 7, 2014, Lolo stated that the government’s efforts to enforce the memorandum of understanding entered with him in July 2013 “is becoming very disconcerting.”

 

Lolo said he was briefed that the most recent timeline is December 15, 2014 — provided by Sene for the start up of the Manu’a Airlines to service the Manu’a Islands, and while he appreciates the new timeline disclosure, “what is happening on the ground is relative to demands from the Manu’a residents regarding the status of Manu’a Airlines.”

 

Lolo noted that the decision to enter into the MOU with Sene, facilitating the divesture of the government owned plane was made as a leap of faith based on Sene’s assurances that the airline would be operational within a year. “With the proposed new startup timeline it would be 16 months since we signed the MOU and there is no guarantee that Manu’a Airlines would start its flight operations on the stated startup date.”

 

The MOU that Lolo is referring to was signed in Ta’u, Manu’a during Manu’a’s Cession Day. According to the MOU the Manu’a Airways says in return for providing low airfares to and from Ofu Airport and capital improvements, ASG agrees to reduce the fees and subsidies for the airport offices and facilities used in support of air service to the Manu’a Islands for a period of up to four years.

 

Under the MOU, the large aircraft hangar which is currently $2,500 monthly, is reduced to $1 a month; small sales/ticket office currently $480 is reduced to $1 monthly; former SPEX sales/ticket office which is currently $2,103 monthly is reduced to $1 monthly; Ofu Airport office which was free is now for monthly rental of $1 per month, and the Tau, Fitiuta Airport Office from $100 monthly reduces to $1 a month.

 

Also the MOU says that ASG agrees to forfeit all airport landing fees for all commercial flights to and from the Manu’a Islands operated by Manu’a Airways for a period of four years.

 

Lolo said in his letter to Sene, the economic merits of the decision is to get the government out of activities, which should be in private hands remains, and he will continue to advance this vision. “However, this particular situation where the people have endured unnecessary suffering for a very long time necessitates immediate action,” the governor said, and pointed out to Sene that he cannot in good conscience sit idle while the people continue to suffer.

 

“I have bent over backwards to give you sufficient time to get the airline operational. Therefore I don’t think it would be unreasonable for me to set a 30 day deadline in which to get the Manu’a Airline operational.”

 

Lolo wrote that the implementation of the economic and social developments plans for the Manu’a Islands has been stymied because of the lack of reliable and affordable air transportation.

 

“We have worked to improve the surface transportation with the completion of the new vessel to service the Manu’a Islands along with our current efforts to construct a new vessel with the same capacity as the MV Sili to stabilize surface transportation to the Manu’a Islands,” he said.

 

In the meantime, the Port Director confirmed with Samoa News that the memo between ASG and Sene has been amended and the Port has leased a hangar and office space to Tasani Airline, which had been allocated for the Manu’a Airways.

 

According to Taimalelagi, the amendment to the MOU has already been approved and the office space will be leased out to Tasania Airline and it should be turned over to them this week.

 

Tasani Airline stakeholders are company president Filifa’atali Mike Fuiava, who is partnered with local pilot, Rep Su’a Alexander Eli Jennings and a Guamanian company, Freedom Air that owns the aircrafts.

 

Filifa’atali said Tausani will have two planes for passenger service and cargo to and from Manu’a to start off with, however they are looking at expanding, as well as a third plane for training of pilots to operate planes.

 

He told Samoa News that the idea of going into the airline business happened when there was no air service for Manu’a what so ever.

 

According to government officials, once the government takes the Segaula back, it’s believed that it will be leased to Tasani Airline.

 

“I did my research on how we can assist in getting air service to Manu’a and I contacted some people and this is the end result,” Filifa’atali said.

 

The Tasani Airline president thanked the governor, the American Samoa Government and Port Administration for their assistance.

 

According to wikipedia, Freedom Air is an airline based in Barrigada, Guam, and it operates a scheduled passenger and cargo service in Guam and the Northern Mariana islands.