Travelers rail against high airfares between Tutuila and Upolu

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Interim Chief Executive Officer of Samoa government owned Samoa Airways, Fauo’o Fatu Tielu has blamed the “expensive fees” levied by the Pago Pago International Airport and the high cost of fuel as the reasons behind the airfares his airline charges between the two Samoa’s — with members of the public complaining about the increasing cost of airfares.

Travelers from Apia and American Samoa are feeling the pinch with the fare costing between $160 to $260 for the return trip.

However, he said that with the opening of Fagalii Airport, the airfares could drop, given the distance flying between Fagalii and Tutuila versus Faleolo and Tutuila.

In August, during a House of Representatives hearing an official of Samoa Airways, Stanley Nansen said the landing fee is $1,005 USD on a monthly basis, but it could be more depending on the number of flights.

There are no charges for services provided by Quarantine and Customs between Manu’a and Tutuila, but these service fees apply for the flights between Tutuila and Upolu.

Samoa News has reached out to the director of Port Administration Chris King for comments on the airport fees charged airlines.

One of the issues discussed during the Samoa Talks held in the territory in July, was  re-opening Fagalii, which is close to town whereas the Faleolo International Airport is farther on the east side of the island.

In the meantime, Samoa minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure Olo Fiti Vaai is determined to have the Fagali'i Airport open before Christmas.

At one time, the Fagali'i airport serviced the inter-island flights between Samoa and American Samoa.

He told the government owned newspaper Savali that the Samoa Airport Authority requested the cabinet for authorization to reopen the Fagali'i Airport.

The Samoa cabinet however requested a health report regarding the safety of the location and health related issues taking into account grievances by residents of Fagalii that live near the airport.

However the minister claims there are no records with the hospital (Tupua Tamasese Meaole) to support that the claims are factual.

 “And although the airport was shut down several times since it was initially opened —over the years there has never been any recorded proof of a death or illness that resulted from the area due to its closeness to surrounding residences for noise pollution or plane fumes.

 “If it was rendered unsafe the New Zealand Civil Aviation Feasibility Study in 1939 would not have resulted with the airport eventually being established in its current location,” said Olo.

Adding that plans to reopen the airport progressed again in the 1960s and wasn’t until 1970 that it was officially open for use and at the time it was merely a grass air strip.

When asked what plans were in the pipeline to address the cabinet directive and whether this would include consultations with the communities surrounding the facility, the minister said no.

Instead, he claims that the last audit report conducted by the Pacific Aviation Safety Office (PASO) is still valid.

PASO is an international organization that provides quality aviation safety and security service for member states in the Pacific including Samoa.

They conduct annual audit inspections for the safety and security of airports, said the minister and they have already done this at Fagali'i Airport.

But, in 2019 the Samoa Observer reported that then-minister of Works Transport and Infrastructure, Papali'i Niko Lee Hang confirmed the closure of the airport would take place at either the end of that year or early of 2020 — citing safety reasons.

"The Fagali’i Airport has failed to meet international standards and for safety reasons it must be closed down and handed over to the Ministry of Police,” he was quoted saying.

And there were other reasons for the close down that included the tar on the runway wearing out, the runway being limited and other concerns and he said were Fagali'i Airport to open before Christmas another issue raised by the public was the limited space for the runway.

The Minister also confirmed that the issue of the short runway would be solved since a survey outcome permits for an expansion of 150-200 meters to the runway.

 “This would solve the limit on passenger and cargo weight by Talofa Airways at Fagali'i.

The Minister also considered the relocation of families in the vicinity if the situation requires it.

According to Olo the land families are living on around the airport is Samoa Land Corporation property.

Thus, he has already discussed with the SLC minister any likely land next to where they currently reside to relocate them to.

 “But that is being left to the Samoa Land Minister.”

He said once the Fagali'i Airport reopens there will be more business opportunities generated in Savaii.

 “The re-opening of the airport would be good business for the two islands because we are trying to find business opportunities for Savaii to improve its economy,” he explained.

The only remaining work to be carried forward to complete any necessary renovations to the airport is the tar re-sealing and the extension to the runway.

The Minister also confirmed that PASO will also have to conduct another final audit inspection on these remaining matters.

An audit inspection has not been conducted in recently years due to the lockdowns experienced by the whole country from COVID-19.

But, when the inspection does happen the minister said the terminal, tar sealing of airport and other minor things such as whether there is a tree blocking the runway would be audited.