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# Planned Inter-Island Flights Tonga -> Samoa -News Article Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
cardamom 03:32 UTC 20 May 2014 | We've heard it all before but who knows? Flights From Tonga To Samoa Delayed By A Month Polynesian Airlines to start direct service from Vava‘u to Apia NUKU‘ALOFA, Tonga (Matangi Tonga, May 19, 2014) – Tonga’s Deputy Prime Minister Samiu Vaipulu has announced that Polynesian Airlines will begin servicing direct flights to Vava’u from Apia, Samoa, in August, following a one month delay in introducing the new service. The Samoan state-owned Polynesian Airlines will service the Apia-Vava’u route using Twin Otter aircrafts. Lance Polu of the Talamua media reported that Vaipulu made the statements in Apia last week, where he had a meeting with Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Maleilegaoi. The direct flights were initially planned to start by July 4. According to the CEO of the Airlines, Taua Tielu, the schedule had to be delayed as the timing coincided with a major maintenance for the aircrafts that will take several weeks. He also said that though Polynesian Airlines has its sight on the Tongan routes but it has to service the lucrative Apia/Pango market, using the same aircrafts. The plan is for Real Tonga Airlines to bring passengers from Tongatapu and Ha’apai to Vava’u, for Polynesian to fly to Samoa. While in Samoa the Deputy Prime Minister also said that a team from Tonga would visit Samoa soon to discuss inter-trade between the two countries. He said that Tonga has bought a vessel that could be used for inter-island trade. He was looking at agricultural products such as watermelons that grow well in Tonga and are very popular in Samoa. With regards to shipping, the Talamua pointed out that Samoa has its own fleet of cargo and passenger ships that provide charter services for neighbouring islands such as American Samoa, Tokelau, Cook Islands and Tonga. The Samoan government also owns half of the Pacific Forum Line which also services Tonga. |
Laszlo 20:38 UTC 20 May 2014 | Whoever wishes to fly between these two countries directly should get on the plane as soon as, and IF, it starts operating on that route. I am far from sure it will even make a debut flight, but I am pretty sure that if they do start such a service, it will not last long. And to Vavau, not even the capital... sigh. | 1
smandkjc 21:16 UTC 20 May 2014 | At least it would give an alternative way to fly to Vavau without using Real Tonga. | 2