The US Department of Transportation has again given Polynesian Airlines the thumbs up to continue flights to Manu’a.
The Samoa carrier has been operating flights to the Manu’a Islands since 2014 via 30-day cabotage waivers from DOT.
The latest waiver allows Polynesian to provide air service to Manu’a from April 24 through May 23.
In an order late last week, DOT Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Susan Kurland said taking into account the current record including that no US carrier currently conducts any intra-American Samoa operations, DOT is granting Polynesian’s request to continue intra-American Samoa services.
DOT is deferring action on the remaining portion of Polynesian’s application, that is, its request for authority to operate beyond May 23.
Kurland says the absence of a US carrier passenger service while Inter Island Airway’s aircraft is out of service continues to constitute an emergency created by unusual circumstances not arising in the normal course of business.
DOT also finds that granting of this authority would prevent unreasonable hardship to the residents of American Samoa.
The order states that DOT will review the Polynesian exemption near the end of the 30-day term to see if the unusual circumstances that established the need for the exemption still exist.
It will then decide whether the situation warrants extension of the waiver for an additional term.
