Samoa Airways leases 737-800NG, awaits regulatory approval to operate

Apia, SAMOA — Samoa Airways is close to finalising arrangements with full-service Malaysian carrier Malindo Air to lease a Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, to operate its flights between Apia, Auckland, Sydney and Brisbane.

"The 737-800NG is the same aircraft type that our Italian operator, NEOS used for Samoa Airways flights from November 2017. It is has a proven record and is operated by many airlines around the world," stated Samoa Airways’ CEO Tupuivao Seiuli Alvin Tuala.

The Malindo Air 737-800NG aircraft is 3 years old and features 150 Economy Class seats with personal TVs, and 12 seats in Business Class with a generous 45-inch pitch, leg-rest and adjustable footrest, an 11.1-inch touchscreen inflight entertainment monitor, as well as AC and dual USB ports.

The lease comes after the existing arrangement with Italian airline NEOS ends on 31st March.

Seiuli said they have been working hard to secure a replacement aircraft. “Our lease with NEOS couldn’t be extended and with the global grounding of the MAX 8 aircraft, there is a huge worldwide shortage of narrow-body aircraft as airlines scramble to consolidate their schedules using their existing fleets and short-term leases from other operators”, he said.

The National Carrier and Malindo Air are working closely with the civil aviation authorities of Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Samoa to secure the required safety and regulatory approvals, which the carriers anticipate will come through towards the end of the first week of
April.

Read more at Inini Samoa