Ads by Google Ads by Google

Fagali'i Airport owned and run by the Polynesian Airlines will soon be operated by the Airport Authority

The Fagali'i Airport owned
Source: Samoa Observer

Apia, SAMOA — The Fagali’i Airport will be handed over to the Samoa Airport Authority (S.A.A.) to operate. 

It is currently owned and run by the Polynesian Airlines (Investment).

But the Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure, Papali’i Niko Lee Hang, said the Government has finalised the decision for the airport’s handover. 

“The Government believes that a private airline company should not run the airport, because other (aviation) companies are also using it which is a conflict of interest for them."

“So the decision to return it to Airport Authority is because it would be more secure, as they have fire trucks in case of any emergency, and at the moment Polynesian doesn’t have those vehicles for emergency." 

“If something does happen they don’t have fire trucks, only the Airport Authority does, and also in terms of terrorist coming in – we need authority to manage those operations, and especially it is an international airport and needs to stick to international laws,” he told the Sunday Samoan. 

The Polynesian Airline has been given 16 months to make the appropriate preparations for the airport to be handed over to the authority. 

The return of Fagali’i to the authority will mean it will have full control of all airports including the new Ti’avea airport currently being built. 

When he was asked what will happen to Fagali’i when Ti’avea airport is in operation, Papali’i said it will stay open. Ti’avea airport will be on standby for incoming flights. 

“The idea is if its cheaper to operate, the one at Ti’avea then we will run it and have just the last flights coming in to Fagali’i. The airport at Ti’avea is to avoid incident like the plane that crashed at Moamoa in the past. If the weather is bad, then the flights can use there than flying all the way to Fagali’i.”

On the question of affordability by the Government to simultaneously operate three airports, the Minister was optimistic saying we will have to wait and see. 

The Ti’avea airport will cost about $5.1million and is funded by the authority. The total cost includes $900,000 for terminal, $1.4million for runway of 900 meters long, $200,000 for car-park and $3.6million on earthworks and clearing of the land. 

Read more at Samoa Observer