Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The US Department of Transportation has approved Samoa Airways’ request for a cabotage wavier to continue operating fights between Tutuila and Manu’a, as ASG has moved forward with improvements to the two domestic airports in the island group.

Manu’a has been without air service since last Friday while Samoa Airways top management and executives in Apia conduct a “review of all flights” operation throughout its network system, according to information received by Samoa News.

As of yesterday, the Samoa government airline is looking at resuming Manu’a flights early next week and the airline plans to return to four weekly flights to Fitiuta Airport on Ta’u island and two weekly flights to Ofu Airport on Ofu island.

Samoa Airways’ main office in Apia didn’t immediately respond to Samoa News questions.

In addition to air service, the Manu’a island group has also been without ocean transport service as the ASG owned MV Manu’atele is in dock undergoing maintenance.

CABOTAGE WAIVER

Samoa Airways’ current 180-day cabotage waiver, which was granted late last year, expires today. Through its Washington D.C. based attorneys, Polynesian LTD., dba Samoa Airways, on Jan. 23rd, filed an application to continue to operate the territory’s domestic flights for  a period of 12 months beginning Feb. 8th.
 
While the airline acknowledged that federal laws provide for a cabotage waiver for up to 180 days, Samoa Airways said its renewal request for 12 months is “to avoid the need to file duplicative applications.”

In its 13-page application, the airline says it will continue to operate up to twice-daily flights between Pago Pago and the Manu’a Islands depending on the needs of island residents and shippers and aircraft availability as well as medical evacuation and other emergency flights as needed.

Flights will be operated with Samoa Airways’ 19-seat Twin Otter aircraft, it says, adding that it transports an estimated 200-300 passengers a month between Pago Pago and the Manu’a islands in the past.

USDOT’s assistant secretary for aviation and international affairs, Joel Szabat issued the approval decision yesterday, “for a period of 180 days” Feb. 8 to Aug. 5, 2020, or until five days after a U.S. carrier initiates intra-American Samoa passenger operations, whichever occurs first.
“We are deferring action on the remaining portion of Samoa Airways’ application, that is, its request for authority to operate beyond August 5, 2020,” wrote Szabat, adding that the absence of U.S. carrier passenger service, with no such  service foreseeable in the near future, continues to constitute an emergency created by unusual circumstances not arising in the normal course of business.”

ASG continues to support Samoa Airways cabotage exemption due to the lack of a US carrier.

MANU’A AIRPORTS

In his State of the Territory Comprehensive Report, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga gave a summary update of projects for the two Manu’a airports, which the Administration has been working on upgrading to ensure plane and passenger safety.

For the Fitiuta Airport on Ta’u island, the airfield Airfield Lighting Upgrade, which costs $1 million, allows the airport to be open for night operations, and improves visibility during day time operations in poor weather, said the governor.

“Given the limited travel options to the Manu’a islands, this will greatly improve the travel experience to Manu’a, especially in an event of emergencies,” he said, noting that the design is expected to be completed in April with construction starting July 2020 and a completion date of January 2021.

At the Ofu Airport, the Runway Reconstruction project design estimated to cost $500,000 is 95% complete with the completion date expected to be in the next few weeks. The project would allow for safer aircraft operations anticipating greater travel to the area through the government’s reenergized tourism development efforts, the governor said.

He added that new fire trucks for the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighters at both airports are estimated to cost $1 million which entails the purchase of 2 new upgraded Class 3 Fire Fighter Trucks for the Fitiuta and Ofu airports that will enhance safety on both runway facilities.