Will Manu’a Air be up and running by late 2015 like their website: manuaair.com says?

ANSWER

We don’t know. Emails sent last week to Barney Sene, President & CEO of Inter Island Airways were not answered as of yesterday.

Samoa News notes the website promos the ‘coming’ Manu’a air routes and service, but as far as we know, currently does not have any of the planes it lists in service, i.e. the Twin Otter or the Islander. The website does carry a 2015 copyright notice.

Inter Island Airways dba Manu’a Airways lost the Segaula aircraft (Islander) last year in December. The Segaula was supposed to travel to and from Manu’a; however, the Port Administration took back the government owned airplane on Dec. 10, 2014.

The Port Administration also terminated their Memorandum of Understanding, signed in July 2013, according to Port Administration Director Taimalelagi Dr. Claire Tuia Poumele in an interview with Samoa News last year in November.

The Segaula is now leased to Tausani Airlines, a new airline company that is supposed to operate Manu’a island flights. However, the aircraft is still being repaired, and recent reports note that Tausani Airlines is still far from being in service, while hearings about the company’s start up funds borrowed from the Development Bank of American Samoa are currently being scheduled by the Fono — in both House and Senate. (See Samoa News story Mar. 13, 2015)

Samoa News understands Inter Island Airways also applied for a loan from DBAS, but was turned down. It currently is not flying to Manu’a or Samoa, as its remaining aircraft (Twin Otter) is still being repaired.

Currently, Polynesian Airlines, a Samoa owned company, is servicing the Apia to Tutuila and Manu’a to Tutuila air routes. However, for the Manu’a air route, Poly Air has to apply every 30 days for a waiver of US cabotage laws in order to continue its service there.