the Samoan government has announced its Polynesian Airlines will again fly directly to other Pacific countries and New Zealand from June, using a Solomon Airlines Airbus 320/319 aircraft.

The move follows a meeting between the heads of both airlines to negotiate an agreement for the lease of the Solomon Airlines aircraft to Polynesian Airlines.

The Samoa government says the initiative is to enhance flight services and provide cheaper airfare options for the people of Samoa.

Polynesian Airlines operated extensively internationally – including to Fiji – until the Samoan Government cut losses and entered a joint venture with Virgin, of Australia.

This is run and operated by Virgin and provides services between Australia and New Zealand and Samoa. Flights in the region and to Hawaii were dropped.

Fiji Airways now flies between Samoa and Fiji with international connections through Nadi.

It also operates Fiji-Samoa-Hawaii return services. Polynesian competition with Fiji Airways appears imminent.

Solomon Airlines flies its Airbus jet into Nadi from Honiara. So the expectation is this will then fly on to Apia from Nadi as a Polynesian Airlines service.

Polynesian in recent times has concentrated on inter-Samoa flights, running a daily shuttle service between Samoa and American Samoa using turboprop Twin Otters.

The resumption of Samoa’s airline’s direct air service to New Zealand will kick off with chartered flights.

But scheduled flights are expected to start in November, with the expectation of the Samoan Government- owned carrier to operate direct international flights on its own aircraft next year.

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