There’ll be a Hawaiian Air plane landing at Pago Pago International Airport early tomorrow morning.
But it wont be bringing or taking passengers.
The A-330 aircraft is refueling here on its way from Honolulu to Auckland, because the fuel supply at Auckland Airport is affected by a ruptured pipeline.
Hawaiian Air flies three times a week to New Zealand however Local Station Manager for Hawaiian Tuli Fruean , the only confirmed refueling stop is tomorrow.
But he indicated that depending on the local fuel supply there may be another refueling stop for Hawaiian Air.
Fruean said the airline had been looking at fueling options since learning of the fuel situation at Auckland Airport and explored refueling options in Tonga and Fiji but decided that Pago Pago International Airport was the best option for now.
The plane will be on the ground for one hour, arriving at 5 am and departing at 6am.
Passengers will not deplane.
Fruean said he’s coordinating with airport staff and the fuel company to ensure a smooth refueling operation.
Air New Zealand flights are refueling in Nadi, Fiji.
The temporary shut-down of the damaged pipeline was affecting all airlines operating in and out of Auckland Airport.
The airport said it does not know how long the problem would take to fix, but it said it was in regular contact with the company responsible for the pipeline, Refinery New Zealand, to know when it would be operational again.
