Samoan Airline Seeks Routes in Fiji-Good News All Around!

The More the Merrier!

AM. SAMOA AIRLINE SEEKS FIJI ROUTE
Inter Island Airways wants to expand

APIA, Samoa (Samoa Observer, May 21, 2010) – American Samoa’s Inter Island Airways wants to expand its operations to Fiji.

And the American Samoa airline appears to have gained success in its efforts to do so.

They are in advanced talks with Fiji Civil Aviation and Airport Authorities for Inter Island to fly into Suva/Nausori Airport – with direct flights from Pago Pago to Suva and onwards to Nadi, Executive Vice President, Barney Sene, said by email yesterday."Suva/Nausori will be Inter Island Airways’ base operations in Fiji," said Mr. Sene.

"We have set up offices in Fiji and have recruited personnel there," he said.

"At some future date, we plan to expand further into Fiji with potentially servicing the domestic market which we are keen to pursue as part of our growth strategy.

"As you are aware, the population of Fiji is approximately three times the population of the Samoas and Tonga combined.

"The tourist market there is about 10 times the size of the Samoas which requires a lot of travel between island resorts.

"Inter Island Airways views these developments and potential opportunities as a positive thing not only for Inter Island Airways employees, but for the Samoas as a whole since Inter Island Airways will be marketing both Samoas as another destination point for tourist in Fiji."

Civil Authority of the Fiji Islands director, Akuila Waradi, said Inter Island Airways is working aggressively in meeting the requirements for a license to serve Fiji.

The requirements include certification from the United States of America departments of transportation to formalize Inter Island as a USA air carrier.

"This will then enable them to proceed with its planned commercial air services between American Samoa and Fiji," Mr. Waradi told Fiji Sun.

"The USA department of transportation will also spell out the condition of the operations, the frequency of the flights, the aircraft types to be used, and the capacity," he said.

It is believed Inter Island has formed an alliance with Continental Micronesia to kick-start its air services via a code share arrangement.

Inter Island Airways rivals with Polynesian Airlines in the inter-Samoa route. "As Inter Island Airways continues to expand outside of the Samoas, our make-up as a company will continue to change and evolve," Mr. Sene said.

"Over 60 percent of Inter Island Airways employees today are citizens of Samoa. Another 10 percent are from countries like the Philippines.

"Fifty percent of our pilots are from Samoa.

"We even have Fijian pilots and Tongan citizens working for Inter Island Airways.

"Inter Island Airways is becoming an ‘International’ airline with an ‘International’ face."

It would be great indeed, though unfortunately exciting new routes out of Amsam seem to have a poor survival record.
I guess because tourists are relatively few, whereas most locals just want to go to the US or western Samoa.

I can't really see where Continental Micronesia comes into this picture...

Yes, this will be an interesting story as it develops...if it ever does. Can't imagine hardly any traffic between Fiji and American Samoa?