Pago Wings aiming to take off in November

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The territory's new airline, Pago Wings, hopes to begin offering charter flights on November 1 while it applies for US Government approval for scheduled air service.

Pago Wings, owned by businessman Papali'i Laulii Alofa, will be operating the charters under Hawaii-based Pacific Air Cargo.

Pago Wings chief executive Marshall Ashley said they will be looking primarily at charters for Manu'a including government operations flights.

The first aircraft for the airline, a 9-seater Tecnam Traveller arrived in the territory late last month.

The airline plans to have 10-12 pilots rotating in and out of Hawaii for the service in the territory, with one pilot stationed permanently on island.

SAMOA AIRWAYS

In the meantime, Samoa Airways luggage at Faleolo International Airport is being loaded by hand due to an equipment fault.

The airline's interim chief executive officer Fauo'o Fatu Tielu told Samoa Observer the container loader machine at the airport is still out of action but it should be up and running soon.

He also denied the airline has cashflow problems following allegations it wasn't able to pay duty for importing its spare parts.

Fauo'o said the airline bought two new belt loaders last month while they wait for the new equipment from Europe.

He said last week that the company that supplies spare parts has relocated to the United States causing the delay.

So far there have been no delays in flights out of Faleolo International Airport since they introduced manual labour.