Samoa Airways mulls returning to Fagali'i

The interim CEO of Samoa Airways says he will await a report from the Samoa Airport Authority before deciding if the airline will resume flights from Apia Fagali'i. CEO Fauo'o Fatu Tielu told the Samoa Observer outlet that the airport is slated to re-open on May 29, 2023, but he is still awaiting confirmation from the SAA that this will happen. "We have to wait on Samoa Airport Authority to complete the work at the airport for preparations for the reopening of the airport," he said. "Because we have test flights we need to do during the reopening with our small operation plans before the airport reopens and only after all these are completed, then they can reopen but I do understand that SAA announced that they will reopen it on 29 May." Fagali'i Airport, which features a 670 metre sealed runway, closed in 2019 for safety reasons, with all flights transferring to the nearby Apia Faleolo. Last year, the Samoan government flagged reopening Fagali'i for flights to American Samoa. <br/>