American Samoa repatriation flights also return Samoa citizens home

Apia, SAMOA — Returning Samoa residents on the repatriation flights between the two Samoas that began Wednesday are not required to go into quarantine once they reach Samoa.

Flights operated by Samoa Airways and the privately owned Talofa Airways are being coordinated by Samoa’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with border restrictions set by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and the Ministry of Health, according to a Samoa Gov’t press release.

The decision to not quarantine is based on Tutuila and Manua being COVID-19 free, with their borders being closed to all international flights since March.

The Government of Samoa, however, has indicated that travel between the islands will cease if the territory opens up its borders to Hawai’i.