Update: Effective Sunday, Oct 26, Runway 8 closed to all “incoming” flights

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Effective Sunday, October 26, Runway 8, the runway nearest the airport’s arrival area, is closed to all incoming flights every Sunday from 6am to 1pm. This closure applies only to landings; departures from Runway 8 will continue as scheduled.

In an exclusive interview, Port Administration Director Barney Sene confirmed that the recent closure of Runway 8 to incoming flights on Sunday mornings was enacted in response to a request by Tualauta Faipule Fagaima Larry S. Sanitoa. The request aimed to reduce aircraft noise during church services, particularly for congregations located along the flight path.

According to Fagaima Sanitoa, several churches situated beneath the route of Sunday morning flights from Apia expressed concern over the disruption caused by aircraft using the smaller runway. As a result, landings on Runway 8 are now restricted between 6am and 1pm every Sunday, though departures from the runway remain permitted.

Churches affected by the flight path include Kanana Fou Theological Seminary, Fatuoaiga Catholic Cathedral, the newly constructed Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints temple, Methodist Church, and Ieova Irae Assembly of God Church in Fagaima.

The Tualauta faipule told Director Sene that noise from incoming flights is especially distracting during church services as they drop altitude directly above the Tafuna/ Fagaima area approaching landing.

He told Samoa News that he first submitted a formal request on October 10, followed by a second email to both the Port Director and Airport Manager on October 21, reiterating concerns about Sunday morning flight disruptions.

On Wednesday, Fagaima received confirmation from Port Director Barney Sene that a solution had been finalized to address the issue. The proposed measures, Sene noted, would soon be implemented.

In his response, Sene noted that the runway is designated an 'International Airport' runway that is supposed to be available 24/7/365, for a lengthy (permanent) period of time on a specific day, and “that they needed to ensure that current and future issues do not return to harm safety and growth of these operations, and airport in general.”

The request was granted not only for reasons he outlined in his email to Fagaima, but also “in the interest of the Department of Port Administration to create a healthy partnership balance between the community and airport operations.”

However, Sene reminded that, if weather conditions warrant, pilots may have to change their approach to the best and safest runway. He also pointed out that exceptions will apply in the case of:

(a) Aircraft Emergency declaration, where the Pilot will need to make their best judgment call based on safety;

(b) when Runway 5/23 (long runway) is not operational and;

(c) wind conditions on Runway 5/23 limits its use particularly for small aircraft, where Runway 8/26 is now necessary for safe landings and takeoffs.

Port Director Sene clarified that the runway affected by the Sunday landing restriction is designated Runway 8 when aircraft approach from the Tafuna side, flying over the McDonald’s restaurant en route to landing.

While landings are restricted during the designated hours, takeoffs from Runway 8 remain permitted, as aircraft depart in the direction of the sea.

Conversely, when an aircraft approaches from the sea side, the same strip is referred to as Runway 26, reflecting its opposite heading.

Sene also noted that the longer runway adjacent to the airport is designated Runway 5 when aircraft land from the Fogagogo side, and Runway 23 when approached from the Pala Lagoon side — each designation corresponding to the runway’s compass orientation.

Asked if there were any improvements in the airport's services that he intended to make, he highlighted the construction of a new airport terminal at Pago Pago International Airport, a project originally approved under the previous Lemanu–La’apui administration, and added that the construction of an air traffic control tower is of equal importance.

“Pago Pago International Airport is the only international airport under US Federal Airport Authority (FAA) jurisdiction without an air traffic control tower,” the Port Director revealed.

The airport currently operates under remote guidance from the Samoa Air Traffic Control Tower at Faleolo International Airport in Upolu, Samoa, coordinating inter-island flights and regional operations without on-site tower personnel.

Sene estimated that constructing a new air traffic control tower at Pago Pago International Airport would cost approximately $40 million.

He expressed hope that the project will materialize before 2030, aligning with broader efforts to modernize the territory’s aviation infrastructure and bring the airport in line with other U.S. FAA-regulated international facilities.

Pago Pago International Airport has been without an air traffic control tower for more than two decades. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) deemed that the amount of traffic at the local airport was insufficient and that Samoa’s Faleolo Airport could provide adequate services through instrument readings and off site communications with aircraft. The FAA discontinued funding to maintain the tower and with no funding available, the government agreed to close it.

American Samoa has continued to work on getting an air traffic control tower, with the latest request being made to use ARPA funds this year. Port director Sene and Faipule Fagaima are fully behind this effort.